Punch.

[b]ACF demands referendum on one Nigeria.
Published October 1, 2020

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• Nigeria practising unitary system fraudulently called federalism – Afenifere


• Nation’s compromised federalism drawing country backward, says Ohanaeze

– ACF secretary-general


Tempers flared on Wednesday when socio-political organisations assessed the state of the nation in the 60 years of its independence from the colonial bondage.

Groups such as the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Afenifere and the Middle Belt Forum, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, described federalism as it currently being practised in Nigeria as fraudulent and called for genuine restructuring of the country.


The apex northern group, the Arewa Consultative Forum, in an interview with one of our correspondents in Kaduna, said the North preferred a referendum to determine Nigeria’s continued existence, adding that various parts of the country could go their different ways if its existence was no more desirable.


Also in his message, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, said the Senate would be fair to all, in constitution review.

He said, “Indeed, part of our collective efforts towards evolving democratic growth and national development is reflected in the work of the Senate’s Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution which I chair.


“The committee has received memoranda from all sections of Nigeria and sustained vigorous interests as well as participation in our plans for a constitution amendment that will enable us all to further improve our nation’s prospects for peace and progress, unity.”

But the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, in separate interviews with The PUNCH by its Secretary General, Sehinde Arogbofa and its spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, dismissed the ongoing constitution review by the National Assembly.

Arogbofa said rather than embarking on another constitution review, which he described as a waste of time and resources, the regime of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) should look at the report of the 2014 national conference, which it abandoned.


He opposed a bloody revolution in the country, but warned that a part of the country could not continue to treat other parts as third class citizens.

He said, “We are not asking for war, but those who are treating other parts of the country as third class citizens are the people pushing us towards a precipice. We will continue to use our intelligence to fight the fight. Nobody will carry any weapon for war.”

Also, Odumakin faulted Nigeria’s federal structure. “What we are doing is the unitary rule that we fraudulently call federalism.”

In a statement on Wednesday Odumakin said Afenifere was insisting on the restructuring of Nigeria into true federalism to avoid the agitation for separation.

Odumakin, in a statement titled, ‘Nigeria at 60: Nigeria not at ease,’ said, “As Nigeria celebrates its 60th anniversary in the midst of divisions, tensions and underdevelopment, Afenifere is worried that the country has yet to find its bearing at 60.

“Only few weeks back, former President Olusegun Obasanjo observed that the country was drifting towards state failure which was fully backed by Prof. Wole Soyinka.

“Even the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on the eve of the anniversary, declared that the cracks on the wall of Nigeria could lead to its break-up. Unfortunately, the country lacks a leadership that could mend the cracks.

“On a daily basis, all the steps being taken by our governments are mostly the ones that could deepen the cracks.

Fraudulent federalism drawing Nigeria backward – Says Ohanaeze

He stated, “If you are talking about federalism, it is a colletion or agreement that exists among federating units and in the case of Nigeria, the federating units have to do with the Federal Government and the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory as is captured in the constitution.



“What has a federation got to do with education? What has it got to do with agriculture? What has it got to do with water resources among others.


Faulting the quota system in the country, the Ohanaeze secretary general said federal character was not practised.

He stated, “We are not observing federal character in Nigeria. It is just in principle. In practice, it doesn’t exist. Do you know that appointments are no longer advertised? Check lucrative agencies and parastatals, you can hardly see them advertised. Nigeria Ports Authority; when last did you hear them advertise for jobs? But they employ every time. The only one you see is the police recruitment. Customs only advertise for junior officers and in the course of recruitment, people just go and lose their lives.

“At the top echelons, you can’t hear them recruit. You can’t see the adverts because one particular section of the country will fill the empty positions with the people from their area and the problem will continue.”

But the ACF secretary general said although the group was not afraid of restructuring, its proponents had not properly defined it.

Aliyu stated, What we want is that ‘let’s define what is it that we want. If we want to be in Nigeria and if we don’t want to be in Nigeria, let’s sit down and agree.”

North wants referendum on Nigeria’s existence – Arewa secretary

I can tell you that the thinking of the North now is that we should actually have a referendum, if we want Nigeria or not. If we want Nigeria, then, we must sit down and see how Nigeria will work.

“If we need the country, let’s sit down and decide that we need the country first. Then we can now sit down and decide on how our country can work for all of us. If we decide that we don’t want the country as it is, then, I mean, countries have gone apart, Czechoslovakia and quite a number of other countries, including the Sudan, had gone apart. We don’t want to go to war.”

“The North is not going to be intimidated again to accept anything. We have to sit down and resolve whether we want this federation or this country as it is.”

Monolithic North now destroyed, Muslim, Fulani see it as theirs – M’Belt Forum

On its part, the Middle Belt Forum lamented the plight of its people within the Northern region saying that what used to be regarded as “One North” had been “completely” destroyed

The National President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Porgu, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Jos on Wednesday blamed the situation on the attitudes of Muslims and their Fulani kinsmen in the region.

He accused them of seeing the monolithic North as their own and engaging in actions detrimental to the collective interests of other natives within the region including the people of the Middle Belt.

Porgu said, “In the 60 years existence of Nigeria, the people of Middle Belt have sacrificed a lot to keep Nigeria and the North together and that is why people like Gen. T. Y. Danjuma (retd) even had to arrest Gen Aguiyi Ironsi because of the North.

“Unfortunately, those who took away Ironsi from him killed him, but it was in the interest of one Nigeria and the spirit of ‘the North is all our own’ that he did all those things .But today, if you ask General Danjuma to do what he did, I doubt if he would do it because that monolithic North does not exist again.


“Rather, what defines the North presently are nepotism, tribalism and religiosity. Our Muslim brothers, not all of them, but those of them of Fulani extraction see the North as their own and they do whatever they like with impunity. Unfortunately again, we have Boko Haram, militia herdsmen and all manner of banditry, all originating from the north. And this is not the kind of the North anybody thought we could have 60 years of our independence.

https://punchng.com/afenifere-ohanaeze-fault-structure-acf-demands-referendum-on-one-nigeria/

Nice one.... NOTHING LIKE ONE NIGERIA......

Those politicians wil not listen, they are benefiting from the system.

But then coming from Arewa I think this is selective honesty, , its a modified kind of Taqqiya used to disarm gullible opponents...the core North will not talk of referendum until oil becomes useless, unless we the southerners wrestle our destinies from their hands.. Do not be deceived.

Ok

Commonsense99:

those politicians will not listen, they are benefiting from this system.

now that we have all agreed, anyone that will go back on this, may he and his region be CURSED FOREVER.
and that CURSE will start from anyone who will insult ipob and what they stand FOR because we all agreed to that on this day

Of course they’re bluffing! It’s all just so it looks like they’re joining southern grps to talk! They know hell would first freeze over before Buhari and the northern oligarchy allow a referendum on Nigerias’ continued existence! Same kinda bluff like the one they did when they asked Igbos to leave the north!

this is a trap

The same Referendum that Nnamdi Kanu was hated and vilified. I will honestly respect Nairaland as a truly detribalised forum if this topic with a "sauce' is moved to d FP with unedited caption

They should issue a declaration on that for me to take them serious.

The best news this year. Let us decide our faith in this country through referendum plz. Terrible situation we got ourselves in nija

IGBOSON1:
Of course they’re bluffing! It’s all just so it looks like they’re joining southern grps to talk! They know hell would first freeze over before Buhari and the northern oligarchy allow a referendum on Nigerias’ continued existence! Same kinda bluff like the one they did when they asked Igbos to leave the north!

They are not bluffing. The right thing now is to plot the next move. Nigeria can't survive the next two years. Majority of the states are borrowing to pay salaries. When the recurrent expenditure is more than the income, you have to file for bankruptcy. Nigeria is technically bankrupt.
The next move is for the senators to discuss this. Any bastard from the south that goes against it isn't worth seeing another week from the day it is raised in the house.
Everyone should get ready. Freedom is coming.

Nigeria is gone

I love Sowore and for his boldness, however, it's time for him to know that one Nigeria CANNOT work and can NEVER work. Focus on Oduduwa Republic just as Nnadi Kanu focus on Biafra. The truth is that there's absolute NOTHING you can tell Nnadi Kanu or the South East people to believe in one Nigeria. If 2023 Presidency cannot convinced them, then what else?

U must divide Nigeria o...Or gv us true federalism.

Ogonimilitant:
Nigeria is gone

The centre cannot hold any more

North wants referendum on Nigeria’s existence – Arewa secretary

I can tell you that the thinking of the North now is that we should actually have a referendum, if we want Nigeria or not. If we want Nigeria, then, we must sit down and see how Nigeria will work.

SCAM! They are just looking for who to target and send their assassins after. Any Southerners that sits on that table to discuss referendum with them will automatically have a target on their backs. So they can wipe them out and continue the status quo. If u no u no.... Every people have the fundamental right for self determination. But freedom is never given, it is taken!

Stale news

IPOB sit at home order: Total
compliance in Onitisha, Nnewi (Photo
news)

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/10/ipob-sit-at-home-order-total-compliance-in-onitisha-nnewi-photo-news/

Yujin:

They are not bluffing. The right thing now is to plot the next move. Nigeria can't survive the next two years. Majority of the states are borrowing to pay salaries. When the recurrent expenditure is more than the income, you have to file for bankruptcy. Nigeria is technically bankrupt.
The next move is for the senators to discuss this. Any bastard from the south that goes against it isn't worth seeing another week from the day it is raised in the house.
Everyone should get ready. Freedom is coming.

Well, i admire your optimism and trust in their pronouncement...even when reality on ground says otherwise!

We’ll see!

Openbusiness:
North wants referendum on Nigeria’s existence – Arewa secretary

I can tell you that the thinking of the North now is that we should actually have a referendum, if we want Nigeria or not. If we want Nigeria, then, we must sit down and see how Nigeria will work.

SCAM! They are just looking for who to target and send their assassins after. Any Southerners that sits on that table to discuss referendum with them will automatically have a target on their backs. So they can wipe them out and continue the status quo. If u no u no.... Every people has the fundamental right for self determination. But freedom is never given, it is taken!

Lols..then they should be ready to dig more graves because word on the street is that NIGERIANS HAVE HAD ENOUGH

North wants referendum on Nigeria’s existence

Nigeria was not destined to survive beyond 100 years.
We are at 60 but we won't see another 60 because by the time we get to 70.... Nigeria will be history.

The silly talk of referendum and restructure is mere copout. Most people in Nigeria and more so those outside knew the country cannot progress as configured. All we need is to start the process of disengagement. Ndigbo want to form Republic of Igbo land. Some Yoruba have recently indicated they also want to create Republic of Oduduwa. There is no time waste on referendum or silly restructure.

nairalandankrah:

Lols..then they should be ready to dig more graves because word on the street is that NIGERIANS HAVE HAD ENOUGH

I'm not saying this from a tribalistic perspective, capital NO, but facts only: pound for pound, weapon for weapon, intelligence for intelligence, soldier for soldier, army for army, a united North is no match for a united South. But southern unity has always been the problem, and the divide and rule is actually even being spearheaded by Southern politicians (not the North alone) because they know Southerners are enlightened, they know Southerners will demand for their rights.

Most Northerners are very simple by nature, they are generally content, they don't ask questions, they are satisfied with whatever they find themselves in. Their politicians can be extremely rich and billionaires, and their people live in extreme poverty but they won't revolt, they won't fight back, they will accept it like that as the will of God and take whatever crumbs their political class throws at them. The gap between the wealthy and the poor can be so extreme and they won't be bothered, they will live in peace.

But Southerners are not like that, Southerners are very exposed both in terms of wanting the good life and knowing their rights. In homogeneous southern countries, If the gap between the wealthy and the poor is too much, or if the southern political class enrich themselves with the commonwealth of the masses but the masses are in extreme poverty, there will be massive dissatisfaction, there will be protests, there will be riots and uprising, there will be conflicts that will overthrow the political class.

That's why the Southern political class prefer One Nigeria, where they can steal and steal and be protected by the federal system, then if people complain, they will point fingers at Abuja, that those ones are to blame, as if they themselves are not part of the same group of people and gang squandering the nation's resources and enriching themselves at the expense of the greater population of citizens.

The Southern political elite know that the day the South is emancipated, the day we have our own separate countries, then they don't have anybody in Abuja to point fingers to again and blame for the endless stealing and looting. They know when we have our own different independent countries in the south, the enlightened southern citizens will demand accountability and demand their own benefits of the individual countries wealth. It will no longer be business as usual again. They know they won't be able to be stealing and having billions, stealing lands and resources and leave the people in penury and have peace. Never!

The southern masses will fight for their rights and fight against inequality of wealth, where 1% are extremely wealthy, 3% are rich, 5% are average and 91% are extremely poor and struggling. The South is too enlightened to accept that rubbish. That's why our political class will rather keep us in bondage with Nigeria, so they can maintain the status quo and continue looting in peace.

Openbusiness:
I'm not saying this from a tribalistic perspective, capital NO, but facts only: pound for pound, weapon for weapon, intelligence for intelligence, soldier for soldier, army for army, a united North is no match for a united South. But southern unity has always been the problem, and the divide and rule is actually even being spearheaded by Southern politicians (not the North alone) because they know Southerners are enlightened, they know Southerners will demand for their rights.

Most Northerners are very simple by nature, they are generally content, they don't ask questions, they are satisfied with whatever they find themselves in. Their politicians can be extremely rich and billionaires, and their people live in extreme poverty but they won't revolt, they won't fight back, they will accept it like that as the will of God and take whatever crumbs their political class throws at them. The gap between the wealthy and the poor can be so extreme and they won't be bothered, they will live in peace.

But Southerners are not like that, Southerners are very exposed both in terms of wanting the good life and knowing their rights. In homogeneous southern countries, If the gap between the wealthy and the poor is too much, or if the southern political class enrich themselves with the commonwealth of the masses but the masses are in extreme poverty, there will be massive dissatisfaction, there will be protests, there will be riots and uprising, there will be conflicts that will overthrow the political class.

That's why the Southern political class prefer One Nigeria, where they can steal and steal and be protected by the federal system, then if people complain, they will point fingers at Abuja, that those ones are to blame, as if they themselves are not part of the same group of people and gang squandering the nation's resources and enriching themselves at the expense of the greater population of citizens.

The Southern political elite know that the day the South is emancipated, the day we have our own separate countries, then they don't have anybody in Abuja to point fingers to again and blame for the endless stealing and looting. They know when we have our own different independent countries in the south, the enlightened southern citizens will demand accountability and demand their own benefits of the individual countries wealth. It will no longer be business as usual again. They know they won't be able to be stealing and having billions, stealing lands and resources and leave the people in penury and have peace. Never!

The southern masses will fight for their rights and fight against inequality of wealth, where 1% are extremely wealthy, 3% are rich, 5% are average and 91% are extremely poor and struggling. The South is too enlightened to accept that rubbish. That's why our political class will rather keep us in bondage with Nigeria, so they can maintain the status quo and continue looting in peace.

1000 Likes

You can force different people to stay together.

Everyone is feeling the heat now

You can't force different people to stay together.

Everyone is feeling the heat now

Scam

Wait until it's implemented before you celebrate! This is Nigeria!