From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
A group under the auspices of the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnic Nationalities (CIEN), has said that the call for the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation is germane and sacrosanct.
In a statement signed by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Mr. Timothy B. Ganduand Mr. Nubari Saatah, Chairman, Co-Chairman, and Secretary respectively stated that more than at any point in Nigeria’s history, calls for the urgent restructuring of the country have been at their loudest, and continue to reverberate.
The statement added that While they believe that Nigeria has grappled with poor leadership for most of its history and that this has contributed immensely to our current state, the group has taken cognizance of the fact that faulty socio-political and socio-economic structures are traceable to the 1999 Nigeria Constitution.
Because of this CIEN said it has forwarded a letter and accompanying recommendations to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as we move towards deepening the conversation on the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation.
CIEN said it has also forwarded the recommendations to the leadership of the Nigerian Senate, and the House of Representatives, respectively.
“The Nigerian public has not been left out, as the recommendations have been forwarded to members of the press for onward communication and reportage to the people.
“We would like to use this opportunity, to call on the political representatives of our people as comprised in the various State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives, and the Nigerian Senate, to rise to the occasion at this pivotal point in our history and take the necessary actions that will give Nigeria’s over 450 ethnic nationalities a voice and a renewed hope in Nigeria’s future.
“CIEN is committed to its engagement with the different nationalities, influencers, labor and trade unions, professional bodies, religious bodies, traditional rulers, political leaders, and all relevant stakeholders in our quest to arrive at the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation to the benefit of all. It is our wish that Nigeria and all its indigenous ethnic nationalities, succeed.”
