As the nation marked the 32nd anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, yesterday, speakers at the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) yearly commemoration event were unanimous in their call for true federalism as the only solution to the development challenges confronting Nigeria.

The speakers, drawn from various geopolitical segments and ideological leanings, who spoke at the 25th edition of the OPC commemoration of June 12 held in Lagos, stressed that federalism is the way forward for country.

The theme of this year’s event was “June 12 as a Catalyst for National Development: True Federalism and Nigerian’s Integration.”

In his welcome address, National Coordinator of OPC and the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, identified four critical sectors in need of urgent restructuring in the polity as judiciary, economy, security and political.

He observed that though changing a country was not a task for the lily-livered, Nigerians had a record of not succumbing to machinations of ‘enemies of the society.’

Adams noted that even if the security challenge of the country was solved, without restructuring, Nigeria would still not become an economic and political giant in the world.

He, therefore, urged all Nigerians, irrespective of political parties or affiliations, not to be weary, but to remain patriotic in their quest for restructuring.

President, Women Arise, Joe Okei-Odumakin, in her address, restated her call for the recognition of the late MKO Abiola as a past President of Nigeria, with his image adorning the requisite government offices and structures.

She also said that restructuring remained the only way for Nigeria to make true progress, maintaining that this must remain our battle cry.

On his part, Femi Falana, noted that history would be kind to the OPC for what it achieved in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate and how it has kept the memory alive over the years.

Falana, who was represented by Dr Wale Adeoye, Executive Director, Peace and Development Project (PDP), bemoaned the flawed constitution that Nigeria currently operates.

He said that the current flawed constitution remained one reason why the country has not progressed.

Meanwhile, while the Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Prof. Ilupeju Akanbi, called for pragmatism in the yearly remembrance of June 12, Vice President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Kudu Abubakar, and the leader of the Igbo speaking community in Lagos, Sunday Udeh, both lamented that the country was passing through hard times under President Bola Tinubu who was also past of the struggle for the emancipation of the country.

On his part, Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, stressed that it was only a revolution that could change the current warped political system that Nigeria currently operates.