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Restructuring alone not solution to Nigeria’s woes, says AAC

By Sodiq Omolaoye and Matthew Ogune, Abuja
02 May 2021   |   4:04 am
The African Alliance Congress (AAC) has said agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria and demand for secession alone cannot solve the country’s problem.

CSOs Amplify Call For National Dialogue To Save Nigeria From Imminent Collapse
The African Alliance Congress (AAC) has said agitation for the restructuring of Nigeria and demand for secession alone cannot solve the country’s problem.

The party, in a communique at the end of its National Executive Council meeting (NEC) in Abuja, observed that the country’s increasing insecurity was as a result of failed leadership and injustice.

Reading the communique, former AAC presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Omoyele Sowore said: “Secession is lawful, but too expensive, divisive, and doubtful. We have also passed the stage of restructuring the country, if restructuring means going back to the 1963 Constitution, while having the same people in power.

Only those who believe we can vote out bad leaders without a fight will simply wait for a power rotation in 2023. However, in all of these, the most basic, clinical, unifying and massive is lawful revolution,” Sowore said.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have urged the Federal Government to urgently convene a national dialogue to save the country from imminent collapse.

They made the call on Friday in Abuja at a National Cohesion and Tolerance Dinner organised by Connected Development (CODE), noting that the government has a unique role to play in creating a safe environment where people can have dialogue and conversations that could heal the country.

CODE Executive Director, Hamzat Lawal explained that there is tension in every part of the country because people are not allowed to speak when necessary.

Warning that no development will come into the country without peace and harmony, Lawal noted that every region must sheath their swords, have dialogues and support government, which is everyone’s business.

His words: “If people want to speak about issues that affect them, allow them to speak because people that are talking will not take up arms. So, in the spirit of Ramadan, I call on Muslim and Christian brothers, Muslim sisters and Christian sisters to amplify unity and peace instead of hate.

He said: “We believe that government has a unique role to play in creating a safe environment where people can have dialogue and conversations.

“As we go into the political atmosphere, we must understand that when we represent people it’s a call to service and for us, we must ensure that people live peacefully, because no development will come to Nigeria, if we don’t live in peace and harmony.”

Executive Director, International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (CEED), Ewah Eleri said: “Our country is going through tough times, a time of trouble in our existence as a country. Every part of our nation is boiling to a large extent. Our youths are at the receiving end of the crisis that we have today in the country…”

According to Eleri, it is important that the country have a conversation around issues of unemployment, poverty and education before talking about the things that unite her.

He said: “Our differences are being amplified, differences of ethnicity, differences of religion, until this critical voices can come together representing young people with their focus on the future, then we can begin to talk about those things that unite us.

“How we can solve the issue of poverty, poor education standard, lack of job opportunities, addressing these structural matters that give cause to the rising tension we have all over the country. We will deplete the number of young people who are drawn into violence and conflicts, and are being used by religious and political leaders.”

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