Former Head of State, retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, says there is nothing wrong with restructuring the country provided it is done within one Nigeria context. Gowon stated this when Sen. Shehu Sani, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Wednesday. Reacting to calls by some Nigerians to restructure the country, Gowon said there was nothing wrong with restructuring. He recalled that Nigeria was restructured under his leadership as the head of state with the creation of states in 1967. “We can restructure within one Nigeria context. I did it in 1967; we created states to stop eastern Nigeria from seceding. “We had to do something to ensure the fear of their seceding did not exist; a serious issue of a part of the country wanting to breakaway when we already lost a part to Cameroon. “If we had allowed the eastern region to go away, the map of Nigeria would have looked funny; it would have been tilted one way. “So, we decided overnight to break the fear through the creation of states. If we had to save the country that was the only way to do it. “We also ensured that no state was too big or too small to threaten the unity of the country,’’ he said. Gowon, through a broadcast in 1967, announced the creation of 12 states; which are, North-Western, North-Eastern, Kano and North-Central states. Others are, Benue-Plateau, Kwara, Western, Lagos, Mid-Western, Rivers (a South-Eastern state), East-Central and East-Central states. The former head of state added that the call for true federalism by some Nigerians was also not a bad idea, as long as it was done within the context of the nation’s unity. “What is true federalism? As long as it means respect for oneness of our country, it is alright, but if it means to breakaway, it is not my way of thinking’’, he said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/can-restructure-within-one-nigeria-context-gowon/

Self determination is a right

So u entrapped a group of people against their wish so that d map of Nigeria won't look funny. Gradually d truth about d incarceration of d 5%ers is unveiling by d main gladiators themselves. Somebody shd remind Mr Gowon he missed d opportunity of d true federalism he appears to be supporting now when he reneged on d Aburi accord where a confederation with a central govt was agreed upon. We insist on self determination now as the only panacea to our present day challenges.

jlinkd78:
So u entrapped a group of people against their wish so that d map of Nigeria won't look funny. Gradually d truth about d incarceration of d 5%ers is unveiling by d main gladiators themselves. Somebody shd remind Mr Gowon he missed d opportunity of d true federalism he appears to be supporting now when he reneged on d Aburi accord where a confederation with a central govt was agreed upon. We insist on self determination now as the only panacea to our present day challenges.

If they truly want Biafra, let them seek it somewhere else like Amazon desert

jlinkd78:
So u entrapped a group of people against their wish so that d map of Nigeria won't look funny. Gradually d truth about d incarceration of d 5%ers is unveiling by d main gladiators themselves. Somebody shd remind Mr Gowon he missed d opportunity of d true federalism he appears to be supporting now when he reneged on d Aburi accord where a confederation with a central govt was agreed upon. We insist on self determination now as the only panacea to our present day challenges.

If they truly want Biafra, let them seek it somewhere else like Sahara desert

Iamdmentor1:
If they truly want Biafra, let them seek it somewhere else like Amazon desert

Do u have comprehension problem?

Iamdmentor1:
If they truly want Biafra, let them seek it somewhere else like Amazon desert

see them citizens of Soka Forest whose ancestors were pushed down to earth by Angel Michael

This war criminal Gowon is still talking and roaming freely after starving millions of people in the Eastern region during the civil war.
Remember that the Bosnian war criminal is languishing in jail courtesy of ICC.

Gowon should be a guest with ICC and he is here talking about how funny Nigerian map will be if Biafra had seceded. What do we have today: strange bed fellows with all the Regions singing discordant tunes. A country where government officials cannot recite the national anthem or the pledge. The only uniting factor is the national cake.
How long are we going to deceive ourselves with this unitary government (feeding bottle federation). The time to act is now.

I don't understand why this Gowon has become the one who decides the faith of this country though what came out of his thought. He was not even present when Lord Lugard created Nigeria and what was on the mind of the people that did this false marriage. His is trying to let us know that the reason why he killed millions of people during the civil war was b/c he was admiring the map of Nigeria. Shame on him. He is an evil man.

Iamdmentor1:
If they truly want Biafra, let them seek it somewhere else like Amazon desert

Did u even read the article or u just chose to be dumb?

Sooner or later, d dream shall come through.

we created states to stop eastern Nigeria from seceding.

Absurdity Dz is very illogical, State creation haven't solve Nigeria's problems and it will never solve Nigeria's problems . State creation brought more pain than good Mstw d way some of our leaders think sef.. Now that the map isn't Funny What av we achieved 100yrs + we re still lacking behind...

Rubbish!!! U it wasn't for the map... There was a lot more reason why the easterners were deprived of their independent sovereign state..

chydon24:
I don't understand why this Gowon has become the one who decides the faith of this country though what came out of his thought. He was not even present when Lord Lugard created Nigeria and what was on the mind of the people that did this false marriage. His is trying to let us know that the reason why he killed millions of people during the civil war was b/c he was admiring the map of Nigeria. Shame on him. He is an evil man.

Of course. First he restructured Nigeria by abolishing the regions and creating States in other to entrench 'divide and rule' then he invaded the Eastern Region and killed millions because of how the map of Nigeria would have looked. Many countries still list him as a genocidal killer who slaughtered millions in the name of a non existent 'one Nigeria'

After the war, the eastern region was devided into two: ss/se by the propaganda goverment
To prevent it from seceding
But the two is still one just like this

Who map do epp?

The blood of the innocents will keep crying over your head, you fool.

chydon24:
I don't understand why this Gowon has become the one who decides the faith of this country though what came out of his thought. He was not even present when Lord Lugard created Nigeria and what was on the mind of the people that did this false marriage. His is trying to let us know that the reason why he killed millions of people during the civil war was b/c he was admiring the map of Nigeria. Shame on him. He is an evil man.

They had only one thing in mind when they called the British, russians and Arabs to help fight the East-- OIL. That's why today I say GOD BLESS AVENGERS. LET THAT OIL THEY KILLED MILLIONS FOR DISSAPEAR. Useless by force unity donkeys who wants to build a nation without a singular ideology that makes TRUE NATIONS. They want to build a 'nation' with people they hate.

Let the oil dry up by force!

I think mr Gowon actually got it wrong here,the unity of Nigeria is negotiable. Inasmuch as some of us ve not lost interest in Nigeria yet,that does not mean no section can break away if there is need for it.

Indeed old age results to senility......Gowon just proved that right with his unguarded and unnecessary outburst of what relevance is the "handsome map" of Nigeria to the instabilities ravaging the country till date after the fall of Biafra since Jan. 1970. what a shame

I doubt anyone can give a concrete reason why Nigeria should continue to exist as one but i can give you a reason why they have been clamouring for Nigeria to remain as one and thats OYEL

Some people are just mumu naturally!

well keep it up

dreamwords:
After the war, the eastern region was devided into two: ss/se by the propaganda goverment
To prevent it from seceding
But the two is still one just like this

SS and SE? Hmmm does midwest make any sense to u? Did u try to find out how it was created? Go do your homework and then correct ur mentality.

Ahithophels aka Yoruba will pretend that they didn't see this.

Clinton9000:
Anhithophels aka Yoruba will pretend that they didn't see this.

Osu..face your conqueror who slaughtered your flat headed forbears nah . The last time I checked , It was neither an Ade nor a Bayo that made the statement . Vagabond osu from ugu republic !!

dreamwords:
After the war, the eastern region was devided into two: ss/se by the propaganda goverment
To prevent it from seceding
But the two is still one just like this

Hey they're aren't alike. You're not in either of the regions so you think they're alike.

Reminez:

[s]Osu..face your conqueror who slaughtered your flat headed forbears nah . The last time I checked , It was neither an Ade nor a Bayo that made the statement . Vagabond osu from ugu republic [/s]!!

Ahithophels

[size=15pt]Thank you for keeping Nigeria one. Biafra must never be allowed to emerge [/size]

Clinton9000:


Ahithophels

Osu cum Ijaw slav.e !

Clinton9000:
Ahithophels aka Yoruba will pretend that they didn't see this.

Look at this osu. How this wahala concern Yorubas?
Go and meet your masters at the waterloo.

YorubaFynest:


Look at this osu. How this wahala concern Yorubas?
Go and meet your masters at the waterloo.

Yoruba and ranting? 5 and 6.