Joda, Na’abba, Utomi, Yakasai, others rule out breakup

Eminent Nigerian elder statesmen on Thursday ruled out a breakup of the country.

They spoke during a virtual meeting on the state of the nation organised by the National Political Summit Group (NPSG) and the National Consultative Front (NCFront).

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The session was attended by Alhaji Ahmed Joda, Uma Eleazu, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Ghali Na’abba, Ubaluzuike Ameachi, Tanko Yakasai, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Kalu Idika Kalu, Late Nnamdi Azikiwe’s widow, Uche; Adamu Ciroma’s wife, Inna; Josephine Anenih, Obafemi Awolowo’s daughter, Tokunbo, among others.

They noted that the national dialogue was held amidst the tension of separatist calls for secession and breakup of Nigeria, especially holding on the heels of the various protest rallies held in that regard on independence day.

They also noted that this was coupled with activities of terrorists, insurgents and armed bandits in the country.

The deliberations, which opened with a profound keynote address delivered by an elder statesman and diplomat, Ahmed Joda and moderated by Prof. Pat Utomi, also received far reaching inputs and proposals from other statesmen and women.

They said Nigeria, as a diverse multi-cultural, multi ethnic and multi-religious entity, should naturally be an asset to all Nigerians, but due to its foisted warped constitutional system and structure, had suddenly become a liability to the well-being of Nigerians.

The communique of the meeting was jointly signed Mallam Nastura Ashir Shariff and Arc Ezekiel Nya Etok.

The meeting resolved to set up a 40-member national reconciliation, healing and political reform commission to fashion a new political system and structure for Nigeria to douse political tension and call for secession in the country.

“To initiate a process of massive consultation and engagement of key stakeholders in the country in reconciling and healing old wounds inflicted on one another, especially the wounds and perceived offence during the civil war in Nigeria,” they said.

They also resolved to reconvene in January 2021, a a wider physical national confab of leaders of thought to include leaders of government and some young leaders in carrying every stakeholder along in the resolving the Nigeria’s political and constitutional acrimony in the country.

They said the agitation for secession or breakup of the country was as a result of the frustration and hardship experienced by various stakeholders in the way Nigeria was structured and being currently run by the political class.