Leaders from the Middlebelt region have asked the Federal Government to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference.
This, the leaders argued, will address the clamour for restructuring of the country.
This comes a week after the Senate urged the Federal Government to forward the report of the confab to the National Assembly for consideration.
Rising from a meeting in Abuja on Thursday, the body also noted that should the country disintegrate, the Middlebelt would like to remain in the Federal Republic of Nigeria with Abuja as the capital.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting signed by its National Secretary, John Darah, pointed out that the Conference deliberated on factors, structures, systems and forces behind Nigeria’s ‘chronic instability’.
“Since these fundamental matters were considered and resolved at the 2014 National Conference, we urge the Federal Government to take appropriate and urgent steps to ensure full implementation of resolutions and recommendations contained in the conference report. We believe that a faithful and effective implementation of those recommendations will promote peace, harmony and greater security, thereby giving Nigeria a new lease of life,” a communique read by Darah stated.
The Middlebelt region comprised the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the six North Central states of Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara as well as Southern Kebbi, Kaduna and parts of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe States.
Some of the recommendations of the confab include: creation of 18 additional states, systematic restructuring of the polity, rotational presidency, creation of state police, scrapping of state/local government joint accounts among others.
Recently, Richard Joseph, a Professor of International History and Politics, submitted that implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference will address the clamour for true federalism in Nigeria.
Delivering a paper in Abuja titled: “Affirming Democracy Amid Insecurity and Uncertainty”, the University Don who lectures at the Northwestern University in the United States of America, submitted that implementation of the report of the confab offered Nigeria the most effective solution to the calls for restructuring.
“There was a great opportunity in 2014 when the National Conference was held here in Nigeria. And that Conference came forward with a lot of recommendations. And so that was an opportunity which Nigerians had to discuss all of these issues relating to true federalism and restructuring among themselves and to go forward”, he stated.
He recommended what he called ‘incremental improvement’ of the institutions in place.
According to him, there was no need going back to repeat or convene another conference on the issue of restructuring.
Darah condemned the activities of herdsmen causing havoc in some parts of the country, while calling on government to free the remaining Chibok girls currently in Boko Haram captivity.
“We appeal to all separatist agitators to allow the restructuring initiatives to run its full cause. We need to stay and work together to ensure that new leadership that can make Nigeria great emerges in the next elections.
“We condemn the murderous activities of Fulani herdsmen in the middlebelt and other parts of Nigeria. We call on the Federal Government to step up security measures to curb this menace.
“Similarly, we call on the Federal Government and state government of Borno to bring back our Chibok girls. And resettle our people of Southern Borno and other internally displaced people in their ancestral lands and homes,” he said.
In what is a clear indication that the 2014 National Conference midwifed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan would not be implemented, President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2016, said the confab report is for the archives, even as the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, declared that the exercise was ‘job for the boys’.
Prominent middle belters present at the Conference include: Jerry Gana, Dan Suleiman (rtd), Ahmadu Ali (rtd), Danjuma LA’ah, Isaac Alfa, Iyorchia Ayu, Labaran Maku, Jonathan Zwingina among others.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
