*Atiku urges north to support restructuring
President Muhammadu Buhari at the weekend urged Nigerians to make use of the 1999 constitution to fight for their rights, rather than resorting to illegality in their agitations.
President Buhari, speaking as the special guest of honour at the memorial conference for former military Governor of Northern region, the late General Hassan Usman Katsina, insisted that the Nigerian constitution contains all necessary provisions that guarantee the rights of all sections of the country.
In his lecture at the same event, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar restated his call for the restructuring of the country because its unity has become fragile.
Buhari, represented by the Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazzau, urged Nigerians, particularly northerners, to emulate the virtues of General Katsina.
The president maintained, “Nigeria has come a long way as a democratic nation. The rights of all Nigerians are in the 1999 constitution. They must abide by the constitution to achieve whatever goals they want.”
“I call on all elected persons to give good governance to the people. Nigerians deserve good governance. My leadership is improving on security, fighting corruption, Boko Haram insurgency has been brought under control. We must unite as a nation for national integration. These are the virtues and values General Usman Katsina stood for.”
In his lecture, Alhaji Abubakar said it has become inevitable for the restructuring of the country because our unity as a nation has become fragile.
Abubakar, therefore, advised the North not to shy away from the negotiation, but should be present at the table to make their views known and give their input.
The Turaki Adamawa said that devolution of more powers and responsibilities to the federating units with them having some powers over their resources would be helpful to the economic and socio-political recovery as well as development of the North and other part of Nigeria.
He advocated a restoration of the current geopolitical zones becoming the federating units to stop the clamour for the creation of states as the federating units can decide to have as many local authorities as it deems.
