James Sowole in Akure
The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, thursday reiterated the need to restructure Nigeria in line with true federalism, saying “without restructuring Nigeria will continue to be in trouble.â€
Adam spoke in Akure, Ondo State capital when he visited leaders of the Pan Yoruba Socio Political Organisation, Afenifere at the residence of its National Leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti.
The Yoruba Generalissimo, said evidences on ground had shown that Nigeria cannot get out of myriads of problems under the current structure.
“I believe that without restructuring, Nigeria cannot move forward. I have been listening to some people talking about constitutional review, what kind of review are they talking about?
“The constitution that was written by 26 army officers. When you see that constitution, you will know that it is a fraud from the beginning. They said: “We, the people of Federal Republicâ€, who are the we, the 26 officers out of about two hundred million people in the country,†Adams said.
He said delegates at the 2014 National Conference had done the needful with their recommendations that were yet to be implemented by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We recommended 633 contexts to move this country forward but I don’t know the body language of Mr. President that refused to implement the outcome of that conference.
“We are giving them two options. We are not saying that it is a must for them to implement the 2014 National Conference recommendations. We said let us go back to the basis, how we got this independence on the basis of federation in 1960.
“We have the option of merging the 1960 with 1963 constitution, so that we can have true federation that can easily solve the problems of the country.
“Now, more than 15 states cannot pay the salary of their workers. How long shall we continue to be borrowing money to pay salary not to talk of infrastructure development? Look at this year budget, federal government cannot implement 30 per cent of the budget; I know that we are in trouble if this country is not restructured. I will continue to be agitating for restructuring until it is done,†the generalissimo said.
Adams, who commended the country contributions of Fasoranti and other leaders of Afenifere to the course of the Yoruba Nation and Nigeria, lauded the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi for his appointment.
He said the foremost traditional ruler had once again solidified the unity of Yoruba land because this is the first time that somebody from Ondo/Ekiti axis would be appointed.
