Restructuring will solve Nigeria’s problems, cleric insists

The Supreme Head of Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church Worldwide, His Most Eminence, The Most Elder Apostle Prophet (Dr.) Solomon Alao (JP), has called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to kick-start the process of restructuring the country, saying it would curb insecurity and the myriad of problems plaguing the country.

Alao stated this during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Annual General Conference of the Church hosted by Ona Iwa Mimo C and S Church, Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.

His words: “The popular clamouring for restructuring would solve most of our problems because a fiscal federalism (not a seeming unitary government) bequeathed to us by our founding fathers, the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the great Zik of Africa and the sage of our time, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is what Nigeria needs.”

He also pointed out that attempts by the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to meet the yearnings of Nigerians would be dead on arrival because the possibility of securing a two-third approval of all the 36 states was not likely to be available because the politicians at the state level would put their personal interests above the nation’s because of the politics of ethnicity, greed and religious bigotry from which the political class was the only beneficiaries.

He added: “I have no doubt in mind that restructuring would guarantee us peaceful co-existence among the various ethnic nationalities of this country.

“My recommendation, therefore, is that the constitutional amendments by the National Assembly, when ready, should be subjected to a referendum for all Nigerians to decide and not the politicians at the State Assembly.”

Speaking on insecurity in the country, Alao said it would be naïve for Nigerians to assume that all was well despite the seeming attempts by the government to play it down.

According to him, Boko Haram and Islamic fundamentalists appear to be controlling some local councils in some parts of the North while terrorism and kidnapping have become new normal with the government becoming outwitted due to lack of political will or deception.

“Security and economy-wise, non-discerning Nigerians were being made to expect an immediate better tomorrow instead of a gloomy future and the possibility of failed nation. The powers that be seem engaged to disgrace all and intimidate courageous Nigerians including elder statesmen and women, who dare to challenge information being fed into the psyche of all of us.

“Those with responsibility to protect lives and property appear less concerned on the killing and raping of the wives of farmers, who dare to challenge the criminal herdsmen for the invasion of their farms. Whether this indifference will not result in some famine at the end of this year’s harvest season would bear me witness.

“When former President Olusegun Obasanjo alerted the nation from time to time, many called him unprintable names. The Federal Character principle enshrined in the Constitution has been virtually abandoned,” he added.

On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde of the state, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Moses Alao, urged the church not to relent in their prayers for the state.

While stating that his administration has been fair to all religions, Makinde emphasised that no society could make progress without fairness and justice. The governor promised to continue to support the church.