On Thursday, while delivering a keynote address at the Bar Week of the Awka branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA. Senate minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe revealed why the Northern Nigeria don’t want Nigeria to be restructured.
He said: “Whenever we talk of restructuring in the national assembly, some of our colleagues from the north will say, is it not for you to have Biafra?”

“Yes, I want Biafra, but I want Biafra of the mind, not Biafra on land. I believe that people can develop their areas in a properly restructured Nigeria.

“We in the South East can be the richest part of Nigeria through our hard work.

“I don’t believe we can get what we want through anarchy. We can get what we want by doing the needful, which is encouraging ourselves to participate in the planned constitutional amendment. It is better for us to make Nigeria a more conducive place to live in, than this blood we are spilling every day. If things are not working properly, there will always be agitation.

He also condemned the increasing wave of killing of security operatives and burning down police stations in the South East, describing the action as barbaric.

He went further to blame the present government for the suffering of Nigerians.
According to Senator Abaribe, The inability to undertake some critical thinking may have led some of us to see the term restructuring as a silver bullet that will solve all of Nigeria’s problems. Can we say that it is the structure of our polity that has made different arms of government abdicates their constitutional responsibilities?

“However, while we all accept that it is necessary to tinker with the structure of our country; we must agree that the immediate cause of our woes is injustice and inability to manage our diversity by the present government. He said.

He further said: “For example, discipline, recruitment, and promotion in the judicial arm is vested in the National Judicial Council, NJC, while another arm of government, the Executive, took it upon itself to remove the head of the judiciary against the stated procedures laid out in the constitution, thus breaching the law. Would we argue that it is the fault of the structure?

“It now seems to us that we have been put in a catch-22 situation. We seem to be going round in circles. The government says to anyone that wants restructuring – Go to the national assembly as the body empowered to amend the constitution. Those who want to restructure feel that the national assembly represents what they also want to be restructured and therefore, do not trust that the national assembly would restructure itself and the nation.”
Abaribe recalled that at a critical point in 2010, there was ‘doctrine of necessity when the nation was also at a crossroads, adding that there is need for the same national assembly to, at this critical juncture, undertake the task of restructuring the current constitutional document. He added:

“I was part of the group called Nigeria Good Governance Group in the senate. We were about 11 and we were meeting to find a way so that the lacuna on the ground than could not create more problems in the polity. The climax was when we got a budget purportedly signed by the sick president, Umaru Yar ‘Adua and we said we could not continue like that.

“All the governors came to the national assembly and resolved to apply the doctrine of necessity, which led to the amendment of the constitution that after three weeks of the absence of the president, the vice president automatically takes over.

“Today, we are in a bigger problem, including the problem of Boko Haram, Banditry, which I believe is Boko Haram that graduated to banditry, Fulani herdsmen and the problem in the South East where people go about burning police stations. So, I think the national assembly, the governors, and well-meaning Nigerians should come together and apply a doctrine of necessity 11. Since we did one during Yar ‘Adua presidency, we can do a second one to help the country. The constitutional amendment will also put the geographical zones in the constitution because it is not there now.

According to him, “One of the arguments used by those opposed to restructuring is to ask sarcastically what restructuring means. They go further to ask if it means the dismemberment of Nigeria. With all due respect, those who ask those types of questions do not mean well for Nigeria. We cannot afford to be limping along as we are doing today that is leading us to the precipice. Something must be done constitutionally and that is to amend the constitution to resolve the issues of today.
“We have to instill confidence in the polity by reflecting such things as state police. Devolution of powers and Fiscal federalism in the amendments. Essentially it means to amend parts 1 & II to move certain items from the Exclusive to the Concurrent list to give more legislative powers to the states.”
He argued that a nation that does not respect its laws simply provides the breeding ground for mutual suspicion, ethnic agitations, and insurgencies as it is currently in Nigeria.

“With the trials and tribulations that Nigeria is going through, we are tempted to ask: Where is the justice of Shehu Shagari? Where is the justice of Olusegun Obasanjo? Where is the justice of Musa Yar’ Adua. Where is the justice of Goodluck Jonathan?

“All these former Presidents were conscious of our diversity and tried very much to manage it to everyone’s benefit. Can we say that of the present administration? Your guess is as good as mine,” Abaribe stated.

https://everyknows.com/pages/917/biafra-is-the-reason-why-the-north-don-t-want-restructuring---senator-abaribe

Well said.

Foolish Senator decieving his foolish followers

14 years in the Senate, earning 30 million per month representing a poor state like Abia, with access to 350 million constituency allowance per quater..

Distinguished Senator Eyinaya Abaribe didn't for once raise his hands to move a motion for inclusion of Referendum in the Constitution or debate on Biafra as wanted by his people

Northerners and Easterners are both landlocked and both are looking for ways to access Atlantic Ocean, both North and East need Oil that they lack, both North and East try to leverage on other people. Eg we the Hausa / Fulani people, we the SouthSouth / SouthEast yet when it comes to politics they remember they are Ibos and Fullani , both North and East rush enmass to other people's region and soon when they get relived and succour they start redrawing boundaries



.

Their eyes and energy will be on Biafra and they won't even know when their land has been overran by ruthless militants..

Non of my business

There comes a natural phenomenon,when a people cum Nation lacks leaders as Natural Resources... Folks!!! Nigeria is in that,obvious Era...... PINNED.

“

Yes, I want Biafra, but I want Biafra of the mind, not Biafra on land. I believe that people can develop their areas in a properly restructured Nigeria.

He want Biafra of the mind but not Biafra on land,this man is nothing but 419

Baawaa:
“
He want Biafra of the mind but not Biafra on land,this man is nothing but 419

I have always said it. The urchins that keep shouting Biafla are majorly those not benefiting directly or indirectly from the government of Nigeria and those Nnamdi Kanu has successfully brainwashed that Buhari wants to fulanize Nigeria. You know, Hausa/Fulani is the biggest threat to their dominance..hence, the baseless hatred

It is painful that despite putting their full weight behind the umbrella party at two different elections, they couldn't achieve their aim of installing the evil that will favour them. If elections are held again tomorrow, their candidate will most likely lose if they don't have support from the Yoruba's...To achieve this, they have started with romancing the good people of South West with sweet words..but we know them, so it's not working...This has led to their frustration

Just wait and see what will happen if Atiku (their FULANI master) wins election, they will drop their agitation for some time. If Atiku fails to pamper them unnecessarily, they will put on that their tattered entitlement attires...and begin another round of senseless agitation

PissfulProtester:
I have always said it. The urchins that keep shouting Biafla are majorly those not benefiting directly or indirectly from the government of Nigeria and those Nnamdi Kanu has successfully brainwashed that Buhari wants to fulanize Nigeria. You know, Hausa/Fulani is the biggest threat to their dominance..hence, the baseless hatred

but why don't you want them to go?it doesn't seems like you like these people,are you afraid that your people will starve to death if they have their own country?are you afraid of standing alone?do you believe that your people survival only rely on them being in Nigeria?honestly im yet to get the reason why you don't want them to go its not by force to live together stop being a coward

He is one of the few real men in Nigeria senate - he always say his mind. For me, Nigeria needs urgent reboot for it to move forward.

Coldshisha:




Foolish Senator decieving his foolish followers

14 years in the Senate, earning 30 million per month representing a poor state like Abia, with access to 350 million constituency allowance per quater..

Distinguished Senator Eyinaya Abaribe didn't for once raise his hands to move a motion for inclusion of Referendum in the Constitution or debate on Biafra as wanted by his people

Northerners and Easterners are both landlocked and both are looking for ways to access Atlantic Ocean, both North and East need Oil that they lack, both North and East try to leverage on other people. Eg we the Hausa / Fulani people, we the SouthSouth / SouthEast yet when it comes to politics they remember they are Ibos and Fullani , both North and East rush enmass to other people's region and soon when they get relived and succour they start redrawing boundaries



.

Song of lamentations...kee yourself

Olatunji1929:
but why don't you want them to go?it doesn't seems like you like these people,are you afraid that your people will starve to death if they have their own country?are you afraid of standing alone?do you believe that your people survival only rely on them being in Nigeria?honestly im yet to get the reason why you don't want them to go its not by force to live together stop being a coward

na me hold Una? Go and ask your efulefu senator, Eberibe na..Can't you read where he said He only wants Biafla of the mind and not Biafla on land?

Guy, carry your frustration go front abeg

mouthofThegod:

Song of lamentations...kee yourself

Is that all you you can contribute to national discuss

Well you spoke according to your IQ

Lol

Coldshisha:


Is that all you you can contribute to national discuss

Well you spoke according to your IQ

Someone that was scammed twice with promise of turning $1 into#1 is talking about IQ

When we told some persons that PMB is God sent they won't believe.
Most of the challenges we are going through now has been in existence for ages. Buhari administration just came to expose the abnormalities we've been petting and patting.

It is louder and more visible now because most of the political elites are left out of the sharing formula. They felt that the circle of munching has been reduced to privilledge few from the same enclave. So they joined the impoverished and the media to revolt by proxy. Tell me that if these guys were part of the equation they'll agitate for restructuring?

Don't be deceived, non of the ruling elite would wish to champion restructuring cus it will expose them and make them vulnerable.
Restructuring is their last option for not getting their bargain.

812twlv:
[s][/s]
ugly bastard
is that why you raped your nephew

ndagaAwo, please change your ways. This is now getting very disgusting

Again, will restructuring change the criminal mindset of Nigerians?
If we don't change our mindsets and our ways restructuring alone can't guarantee an eldorado.

Okoo

Coldshisha:




Foolish Senator decieving his foolish followers

14 years in the Senate, earning 30 million per month representing a poor state like Abia, with access to 350 million constituency allowance per quater..

Distinguished Senator Eyinaya Abaribe didn't for once raise his hands to move a motion for inclusion of Referendum in the Constitution or debate on Biafra as wanted by his people

Northerners and Easterners are both landlocked and both are looking for ways to access Atlantic Ocean, both North and East need Oil that they lack, both North and East try to leverage on other people. Eg we the Hausa / Fulani people, we the SouthSouth / SouthEast yet when it comes to politics they remember they are Ibos and Fullani , both North and East rush enmass to other people's region and soon when they get relived and succour they start redrawing boundaries



.

Taaaaa

Shut up.


Your thieving housa Fulani brothers balkanised Igbos into few states and has been running propaganda and selling erroneous evangelism that Igbo or South East is landlocked.

Be you guided, every Igbo speaking territory is Biafra and by extension old Eastern region, ask UGM

Be that as it is, the narrative of East being landlocked is Stale.

Be guided!

Baawaa:
“
He want Biafra of the mind but not Biafra on land,this man is nothing but 419

Even MNK said same. If Nigeria is restructured and economic autonomy given to its sub-regions,Biafra becomes irrelevant.

The need to move at our pace, vide hard work and meritocracy cannot be diluted by laziness quota system and rankadede culture. The current structure is a slow down to fast paced Biafrans.

Eg. See the Massive airport built by Obiano without borrowing a dime in contrast to mind bugging and generational loans bedeviling Nigeria.

Abaribe is right.

We dey

Nigerians panic at the word BIAFRA, Government panics at the word RESTRUCTURING.

the real reason why the north does not want restructuring is because of Niger delta oil.

It

Biafla or � death

Restructuring and state police,will give us advantage to most European country

Coldshisha:


Northerners and Easterners are both landlocked and both are looking for ways to access Atlantic Ocean, both North and East need Oil that they lack, both North and East try to leverage on other people. Eg we the Hausa / Fulani people, we the SouthSouth / SouthEast yet when it comes to politics they remember they are Ibos and Fullani , both North and East rush enmass to other people's region and soon when they get relived and succour they start redrawing boundaries



.

the moment I read the bolded I knew that your madness is getting the better of you Afonja wasterner