- Leaders from the southeast region are still demanding that the country be restructured
- According to them, southeast is not interested in Igbo presidency without restructuring first
- They said they have agreed with the southwest and the middle belt that the federating units should be the zones with the states under them
Southeast leaders, in a meeting on Sunday, February 25, called on the federal government and the National Assembly to restructure the country, adding that the Igbos have no interest in presidency unless Nigeria is restructured.
The southeast leaders met with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe-led Ohanaeze committee on collation of Igbo in Ikoyi, Lagos state, Vanguard reports.
Chief Guy Ikokwu said: "We debated Igbo position on geo-political restructuring. Igbo insist on restructuring of the polity immediately. We are not interested in Igbo presidency now without restructuring. We are calling on the presidency and the National Assembly to proceed with restructuring immediately.
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"The federal government or the centre should have less power than it has now. It should devolve power to the federating units. We agree with the South-West and the Middle Belt that the federating units should be the zones with the states under them. Each zone should have its constitution. There should be fiscal federalism and resource control.
"We are looking at six zones, three in the South and three in the North. The majority of Ndigbo believe, like the South-West, that the federating units should be the zones. With true restructuring, equality of zones, fiscal federalism and resources control, there will be no need for an additional state in the South-East. Each zone will be free to create as many states at it deems fit without recourse to the centre.’’
Leaders at the meeting included deputy president general of Ohanaeze, Sylvan Ebigwei; Kalu Idika Kalu; Chief Guy Ikokwu; Agunze Chibeze Ikokwu; Professor Uzodinma Nwala; Chief Charles Odinukwe; representatives of southeast governors; and members of Igbo Think-Tank group, Aka-Ikenga among others.
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NAIJ.com previously reported that chairman of the forum and former president general of the apex Igbo socio -cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, said the southeast elders have decided to support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Ikedife said the elders will rally round and support the president if he decided to contest the coming presidential election but the decision to contest or not is left to him.
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Source: Naija.ng
ROSY CREST
Tuesday, 27 February 2018