Restructuring a must for Nigeria’s survival – PANDEF

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has said that restructuring is a must for the survival of Nigeria.

The group in a communique signed by its National Chairman, Emmanuel Ibok Essien, at the end of its virtual meeting attended by the National Leader, Dr Edwin Clark, restated the position on the need for the restructuring of the country.

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While insisting that Nigeria cannot continue with what it described as the present flawed trajectory, PANDEF said restructuring is now not only a vital necessity but has become expedient for the survival of Nigeria.

It called on the federal government to heed the voice of reason and “without any delay, institute a genuine dialogue process on the restructuring of the country so as to stimulate peace, security, and development, before it is too late.”

It maintained that the Presidency must rotate to the south in 2023 at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s two tenures of eight years, saying that it is non-negotiable that a southerner must succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group pointed out that whether the southerner would come from the South-South, South-East or South-West is a different matter entirely.

“We reiterate the call on the National Assembly to accelerate the amendment of the Electoral Act, with the inclusion of provisions for electronic voting, before the 2023 general elections, to guarantee free, fair and credible elections. That anything otherwise would be unacceptable,” it said.

PANDEF called on the federal government   to fish out those behind the spate of attacks on police formations and personnel in some states in the south-south and south-east.