There
is an urgent need for the restructuring of the polity and the
only vehicle is Sovereign National Conference, the Coordinator of
Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Mr. Ayo Opadokun,
has said.
The pro-democracy activist said the plight of ethnic nationalities perceived as second class citizens would only come to an end, if there past deprivations and injustice are redressed.
Opadokun urged minorities to intensify the clamour for re-arrangement, wondering why Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states are still lumped with other ethnic nationalities in the North Central geo-political zone.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan has only adopted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s style by packaging the Belgore Committee, which has not come up with any novel recommendation.
Opadokun canvassed an end to shadow chasing and window dressing, recalling that previous plots to foist a third term agenda on the country at the 2005 Constitutional Conference collapsed like a pack of cards.
He said it is difficult for the leadership to turn the mere geographical expression to a virile nation, having wasted opportunities to reconfigure the political space.
The CODER chief added: “ Why will President Jonathan ignore the popular will of the greatest majority asking ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders to meet in a representative assembly to confront the national question?
“Its the unwillingness of our rulers to govern us legally and legitimately that makes Nigeria to be part of the 10 most corrupt nation in the world and also in the company of those with the highest infant mortality rate. How can anyone explain that as much more money is earned by Nigerian government from petrol dollars, the worst their living conditions?
“Nigerians are going through a worst deprivations. No doubt with much government yet there is no governance. Every one must be a local council by sinking his own borehole and fixing a generator to power himself to survive”.
Opadokun said Justice Alfa Belgore should not have chaired the panel, pointing out that he is one of the leading icons of the Belgore’s dynasty which have usurped a very strategic and historic town, Ilorin.
He said Afonja, a rebellious war commander, sold the land to the Fulani dynasty, lamenting that, up to now, the Fulani descendants are still on the conquering offensive.
He added: “How will Belgore react to the genuine agitations of Yoruba people of Kwara and Kogi states that they should be packaged together, and with boundary adjustment, they should make the seventh state of the Southwest? Our agitation predate the current wickedness going on in Nigeria.
“Since the NPC and NCNC opposed the position of the AG that the report of the Henry Willinkson Commission must be acted upon before the ceremonial independence, other Nigerian leaders have not acted better either. For example, Ayo Opadokun is of the Ibolo stock of the Oyo Yoruba. In fact, historically, Offa is the headquarters of the Ibolo people. Ibolo extends to Iwo in Osun State now being positively and ideologically governed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“Furthermore, no Yoruba from Kwara and Kogi states can successfully compete for any socio-political and economic position before he is reminded that he should go to the Southwest. It is painful when people of your nationality tell you that you are a northerner. We are neither birds or animals”.
Opadokun maintained that the campaign for a national conference by the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF), Middle Belt Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lower Niger Federation, Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and other credible Nigerians underscored the imperative of the national debate.
He said the conference of ethnic nationalities cannot be hijacked by the government.
Opadokun added: “Time is fast running out for government on this matter. NADECO has received a number of delegations which have produced their own constitutional drafts that they will present at the conference. Those who are currently living as second class citizens and those who have been denied their economic rights can no longer watch the usurpers’ a continuous free reign. The current Nigerian state cannot abort an already delivered baby.”
The pro-democracy activist said the plight of ethnic nationalities perceived as second class citizens would only come to an end, if there past deprivations and injustice are redressed.
Opadokun urged minorities to intensify the clamour for re-arrangement, wondering why Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states are still lumped with other ethnic nationalities in the North Central geo-political zone.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan has only adopted former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s style by packaging the Belgore Committee, which has not come up with any novel recommendation.
Opadokun canvassed an end to shadow chasing and window dressing, recalling that previous plots to foist a third term agenda on the country at the 2005 Constitutional Conference collapsed like a pack of cards.
He said it is difficult for the leadership to turn the mere geographical expression to a virile nation, having wasted opportunities to reconfigure the political space.
The CODER chief added: “ Why will President Jonathan ignore the popular will of the greatest majority asking ethnic nationalities and other stakeholders to meet in a representative assembly to confront the national question?
“Its the unwillingness of our rulers to govern us legally and legitimately that makes Nigeria to be part of the 10 most corrupt nation in the world and also in the company of those with the highest infant mortality rate. How can anyone explain that as much more money is earned by Nigerian government from petrol dollars, the worst their living conditions?
“Nigerians are going through a worst deprivations. No doubt with much government yet there is no governance. Every one must be a local council by sinking his own borehole and fixing a generator to power himself to survive”.
Opadokun said Justice Alfa Belgore should not have chaired the panel, pointing out that he is one of the leading icons of the Belgore’s dynasty which have usurped a very strategic and historic town, Ilorin.
He said Afonja, a rebellious war commander, sold the land to the Fulani dynasty, lamenting that, up to now, the Fulani descendants are still on the conquering offensive.
He added: “How will Belgore react to the genuine agitations of Yoruba people of Kwara and Kogi states that they should be packaged together, and with boundary adjustment, they should make the seventh state of the Southwest? Our agitation predate the current wickedness going on in Nigeria.
“Since the NPC and NCNC opposed the position of the AG that the report of the Henry Willinkson Commission must be acted upon before the ceremonial independence, other Nigerian leaders have not acted better either. For example, Ayo Opadokun is of the Ibolo stock of the Oyo Yoruba. In fact, historically, Offa is the headquarters of the Ibolo people. Ibolo extends to Iwo in Osun State now being positively and ideologically governed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
“Furthermore, no Yoruba from Kwara and Kogi states can successfully compete for any socio-political and economic position before he is reminded that he should go to the Southwest. It is painful when people of your nationality tell you that you are a northerner. We are neither birds or animals”.
Opadokun maintained that the campaign for a national conference by the Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF), Middle Belt Forum, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lower Niger Federation, Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and other credible Nigerians underscored the imperative of the national debate.
He said the conference of ethnic nationalities cannot be hijacked by the government.
Opadokun added: “Time is fast running out for government on this matter. NADECO has received a number of delegations which have produced their own constitutional drafts that they will present at the conference. Those who are currently living as second class citizens and those who have been denied their economic rights can no longer watch the usurpers’ a continuous free reign. The current Nigerian state cannot abort an already delivered baby.”
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