It is the season of endorsements by various sociocultural organisations in the country who are saying that only on restructuring can the country stand. ELEOJO IDACHABA takes a look at the positions of these groups especially the recent one by Afenifere and the reactions that follow.
As the general elections draw close, what is, in recent times, known in the political parlance as endorsement of candidates, is gaining wider ground and it seems political parties are forced to run with it.
In all the geopolitical zones of the country, various interest groups are quick to cash in on their interest to gain the attention of political parties and their candidates.
Yesterday, a splinter Afenifere group led by Sen. Ayo Fasanmi, called on Yoruba to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and APC in the forthcoming elections, saying that the administration has done well. Its position was made known when the vice president Yemi Osinbajo visited some leaders of the group in Ibadan with a tactful message of restructuring. The motion was moved by Sen. Olabiyi Durojaiye during the meeting.
Report has it that women group and other youth groups at the event supported the motion by Durojaiye.
Durojaiye said that the motion to support APC was in consideration of the achievements recorded of the Buhari-led administration.
On his part, Osinbajo appealed to all Yoruba to ustainn the legacies of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo whom he said is the apostle of restructuring.
He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the sustenance of a government of integrity and prudence.
“Restructuring is useful and important, but we need to strategise on how to pursue it. We must not allow some politicians to turn or use the agitation for restructuring to achieve selfish ends,” he said.
Sen. Fasanmi said that the Buhari administration has performed very well in the last three and a half years considering the condition it met the country on assumption of office.
He expressed happiness that APC is ruling the entire South-west states, saying such would be a good message to deliver to late leader of the Yoruba, Chief Awolowo.
“All we will like to tell the late Yoruba leader, Obafemi Awolowo, is that his legacies were sustained. We will celebrate two things on March 6 after the election.
The guest lecturer, Sen Olubunmi Adetunmbi, said the Yoruba race need to look at the options before them in the elections and their role in search for a better federation
Adetunmbi said Nigeria need a new type of restructuring that allows for complete dis-aggregation of population and demographic statistics, social and economic data.
He said all these need to be evolved by states, local governments and communities for performance measurement, improved localised planning and ease of comparative analysis.
The senator commended the Buhari/Osinbajo presidency for expanding the scope of federal/state economic relations from just revenue sharing.
Adetunmbi said such would include broader debate on political economy, job creation, fiscal issues and national economic policy management.
Afenifere that endorsed Buhari are impostors – Odumakin
In the meantime, the Afenifere group led by Pa Rueben Fasoranti which is said to be the authentic one has denounced the endorsement by a faction of the group. According to a statement by its spokesperson Yinka Odumakin, “They are comedians. The only shame is that the vice president has degenerated to the point of going to sit among such people and feting them in the name of Afenifere. All those that attended the event is of Afenifere and that shows that the integrity of the vice president cannot be trusted,” he said.
It says President Buhari has not shown any intention to restructure the country since 2015
The group had earlier in 2018 stated that it tried to reach the president about the issue through some governors from the southwest who are close to him, but did not get any response from the presidency
Odumakin said while President Buhari’s administration had not shown any intention to restructure the country since 2015, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had been consistent in that regard.
“Afenifere and its partners are committed to the restructuring of Nigeria. It is now clear that with 11 months to the next general elections and with the government in power not keen on restructuring, it will be the main issue for 2019 general elections.
“The 2019 elections will be between a pro-unitary government and pro-federal government. By God’s grace, we will be working with our partners to ensure that the forces of federalism prevail. It is not enough for political parties to promise restructuring. The APC promised but if you want to earn our support, they must show evidence, total commitment to the restructuring of Nigeria. Any other thing is waste of time.
“We have reached out to the Presidency through some of the governors who are close to him (Buhari) from the South-West. We drafted a list of leaders across Nigeria that the President should summon across Nigeria to discuss the issue of restructuring. Many months after, the governors did not get across to us probably because they met a brick wall. “There is a consensus among leaders of the South-West, South-East, South-South, the Middle Belt and Arewa. We have said we will wait for the consensus candidate that would be produced by the CUPP to enable us to make our choice among the candidates.”
“Atiku has been very strong on restructuring and he has also picked a running mate (Peter Obi) who has also expressed very strong opinion about the issue of restructuring. Obi is from a zone where the people are clamouring for restructuring,” Odumakin said.
South-south/South-east zones also state positions
While all these are going on, in the South-south part of the country, the agitation for restructuring was also gaining wider ground. The Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), an umbrella body for elders and leaders of the various ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, says its position on restructuring of the country has not changed. It said, “For Nigeria to move into occupying it’s position in the comity of nations, there is nothing short of restructuring.”
The Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze said its position on restructuring Nigeria has not changed despite the rumours about its position in the Nigeria project. According to a statement by the group signed by its leader John Nwodo, “In consideration of relevant existential factors pertaining to the treatment of the Igbo in our polity, Ohazaeze therefore ratifies the decision reached at its NEC meeting to adopt the Atiku Abubakar/Peter Obi ticket in the 2019 presidential election.”
In the early days of the administration of President Buhari, APC set up a restructuring committee headed by the governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir El Rufai whose report supported restructuring, however, President Buhari’s later posture towards the issue was cold thereby forcing various sociocultural groups to take divisive positions especially as the country was drifting towards crisis.
