Governors from North-Central states; Kwara, Kogi, the Federa Capital Territory (FCT) and the host, Niger on Tuesday in Minna, declared full support for on-going clamour for Nigeria’s restructuring, saying that if failure to do so would lead to dismembering of the country.
Declaring the event open, the Governor of Niger state and Chairman, North-Central Governors Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello observed that, Constitutional review, if well articulated,would guarantee better and inclusive economic growth as well as increase political stability and enhance peaceful coexistence.
During the event which took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference hall, Minna, centre of the North-Central zone public hearing on Constitutional review, Governor Bello said in a Federal system of government,” restructuring is dynamic process through legislative and other procedures that is acceptable by citizens as the need arises.”
Bello, who declared the full support of Governors from the zone said, “The reality of Nigeria today is that, there are varied perceptions to the ongoing constitutional review process, adding that “one thing that the vast majority of Nigerians want is peace and indivisible country”.
“One thing that we in the North-Central states want and must remain sacrosanct is the unity of Nigeria. I believe we are better-off and stronger as one indivisible nation and that is the beauty of democracy and what true federalism is all about”.
He described the event as ‘very significant’ for the nation building, pointing out that Nigeria has evolved over time and for it to attain desired position in the comity of nations, there is need to review emerging issues in the constitution.
Before now, Governor Bello told the gathering that states in the zone had been meeting on the subject matter to take position on the review process.
He, however, stated that, “We need to consider, as a country, the nature and type of constitution we will in addition to other issues with local government autonomy, legislative and judiciary independence”.
Senator Abdullahi Sabi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, who read the address of the Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitutional Review, Chief Omo Ovie Agege, had earlier called on Nigerians to take possession of the review process and contribute to the review process.
The Reporters reports that two-day event aimed at outlining and articulating the position of the zone on some burning issues, regarding Nigeria’s unity, was well attended by critical stakeholders and all the Senators representing the participating States and the FCT.
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