…as Northern group cautions VP over utterances
Umbrella Northern socio-political group, Arewa Consultative Forum, has cautioned Vice President Yemi Osinbajo against making statements that can aggravate tension in the country.
ACF spoke just as other regional socio-political groups such as Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and Pan-Niger Delta Forum said the alarm raised by Osinbajo’s should not be dismissed with a wave of the hand.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere and PANDEF argued that Nigerians could not continue to live in denial about the current situation and state of the Nigerian Federation.
But ACF admitted that although unhealthy cracks had appeared on the walls of Nigeria’s unity, it stressed that Osinbajo should not utter statements that could worsen the tension in the country.
VP Osinbajo had at an inter-denominational church service organised in Abuja on Sunday to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary said in his speech, “Our walls are not yet broken, but there are obvious cracks that could lead to a break, if not properly addressed.”
The vice president was represented at the church service by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who read his speech.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, in its reaction, agreed with Osinbajo’s warning that cracks in Nigeria could lead to the breakup of the Federation.
Ohanaeze’s National Publicity Secretary and acting Secretary General, Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga, said Osinbajo’s statement on the matter reflected the feelings of other Nigerians.
The Ohanaeze spokesman, however, blamed the government over its alleged failure to take steps to address the problems, adding that prayers were not enough.
He added that although Osibanjo is a man of unimpeachable character, who knows where the problems of Nigeria lie, he said it was not enough to ask Nigerians to pray.
He said, “By his pedigree as the Vice President of Nigeria, law professor and pastor, he knows where the shoes pinch the government.
“In so many areas he is right. You can’t take his words for granted. He has been inside there and he knows where the shoes pinch the government and the people of Nigeria. So when he drops a word like that you can always know he is serious and he knows the nitty-gritty of what he is saying.
“What he is saying is not even different from what Nigerians are saying. This thing is not rocket science; we are seeing it. Look at the economy, the prices of the commodities have increased. Look at the electricity tariff increase and fuel pump price hike. Is it the gift that the government is giving Nigerians at the heat of this COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged Nigeria economically?
“Look at security; how Fulani herdsmen are ravaging communities and agricultural lands; killing Nigerians every day. The government is aware of this and no effort is being made to stem it.”
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, in his own reaction, said, “This is a perceptive observation and bold declaration by the Vice-President. It is an honest admission better than playing the ostrich. When you admit the problems you can begin to find solutions to them. But when you live in denial, you won’t find solutions to your problems.”
PANDEF on its part said restructuring, justice and peaceful coexistence were the only solutions that would bring about progress and development to the Nigerian Federation.
Forum’s spokesman, Ken Robinson, said Osinbajo’s observations and fears for the country were not misplaced as Nigeria had got too close to the edge of the precipice.
According to him, “PANDEF feels that the Vice-President is partly right that there are cracks, there are disaffections. Nigeria is in a precarious state.
“People are not happy with the way the affairs of the country are being conducted; so various groups are asking for self-determination. There is a Yoruba group that is asking for self-determination.
“There are the IPOB, the Igbo youths and there is general disaffection in the country, with the nepotistic attitude and disposition of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“So, VP Osinbajo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is right that there are cracks, But the answer is not prayer. We talk too much about prayers in Nigeria, when we know what to do.
“What to do is restructuring of Nigeria to give federating units power. What we need is fiscal federalism. What we need is devolution of powers. There is too much power at the centre.
“The constitution as it is today makes the President the God of Nigeria. This is not right. He can wake up one morning and do whatever he likes and it stands.”
Speaking in the same vein, Middle Belt Forum National President, Dr Bitrus Porgu, also backed Osinbajo.
Porgu lamented that British Colonial masters forced different nationalities together without recourse to their individual differences.
He also expressed regret that the Buhari administration had continued to promote policies in favour of his Fulani kinsmen and Muslims to the detriment of the interests of other Nigerians.
Porgu said, “I think the Vice President said the right thing because we have been talking about the issues bedevilling the country including insecurity ,bad governance, the structure of government which needs to be restructured among others. Unless these issues are addressed and urgently too, such that all the components that make up the country are happy with coexistence, things can fall apart.”
But ACF warned Osinbajo against comments capable of aggravating the already tense situation in the country.
It noted that although the cracks in the country were unhealthy, the nation would overcome them.
ACF National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, cautioned other Nigerian leaders, to “watch their words.”
Yawe said, “The cracks are unhealthy but we expect the Vice President to calm nerves and not make a pronouncement that will aggravate the situation.
“The ACF is hopeful that Nigeria will overcome its current travails as it did in the past and even overcame a fratricidal war to break up Nigeria. To do this, Nigerian leaders like Osinbanjo should watch their words.”
