Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, has faulted assertion by former Military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon that Nigeria cannot be restructured.
IYC stated that the ethnic plurality narrative highlighted by the former Head of State lacked moral and historical objectivity.
In a statement signed by its President, Roland Oweilaemi Pereotubo, IYC said, “we watched with utter dismay the view expressed by the Former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon over the raging argument of restructuring.
“The reason advanced by the ex-military leader that Nigeria’s restructuring is not possible due to the ethnic plurality in the country lacked all moral and historical objectivity.
“That can never be a reason to refuse the demands for restructuring of the country.
“Has Gen Gowon forgotten so easily that Nigeria was well restructured in the 60s before the military toppled the Government of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and decolonised the Country with its inimical unitary decree?
“In the 1960 and 63 Independent and Republican Constitutions, even a pupil in primary school today knows that there was a restructured Nigeria within the three regions.
“On the unending argument about derivation, of course, Nigerians cannot forget that it was Gen Gowon that altered the 50% derivation principles for the regions on the basis of production.
“There may not have been crisis over restructuring and derivation of natural resources had Gowon not abrogated the provisions of derivation in the 1963 Constitution to satisfy his war urge.
“Was there no ethnic groups in the Country when the 1960 & 63 Constitutions restructured the Country and provided for an acceptable derivation principles?”
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