Former governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has warned the Federal Government not to fall into the hands of few political elites who are championing the agitation for restructuring.
He revealed that some people were spearheading the course of restructuring only because they want to be “super governor” in their geo-political zone.
The former governor advised the federal government to set up an appropriate body to collate all the previous constitutional conferences in the interest of the country.
Shekarau said unless that was done, the country may fall into the trap of some elites who were championing the cause of restructuring of the polity in order to serve their personal interests.
Speaking with reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, after he had attended the book launch titled “Nigeria: The Path we Refused to Take” written by the Secretary of Afenifere, the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political group, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, Shekarau said there was the need for the Federal Government to look at the previous reports of the National conferences and use them for the benefit of the people.
According to him, this would douse the agitation for restructuring rocking different regions of the country.
Since all the six geo-political zones are clamouring for restructuring, Shekarau said the government should listen to the voice of the people.
The former minister said, “I know you will agree with me that different people have different meaning to the restructuring. Unless as nation, we identify collectively on what we mean by restructuring, we will never get there.
“I support any restructuring, any arrangement that will ensure political stability that will bring progress, that will bring free and fair and just leadership in Nigeria.“
While speaking on whether the Federal Government should call for another conference to address national questions, Shekarau said “not necessarily another conference, but setting up of an appropriate body, trusted people to collate all the reports of the previous conferences , to collect all the ideas ,to identify even going into referendum on a particular understanding of what restructuring is all about.
“Now, everybody is interpreting it in his own way. If we are not careful, we will fall in to the hands of few elite. Some people want restructuring that will give government a regional geo-political zone because they want to be super governors in a geo- political zone.”
He however said “I don’t want to bring in any particular interpretation that would break Nigeria but the interpretation that would move Nigeria forward. I am not speaking here as a northerner, but I am speaking as a Nigerian.
“In the Southwest, it is not just about the state police, even in the Southeast, it is not just about Biafra, the Southeast wants additional state. All others zones have six states while one has seven. The Southeast needs additional one state.”
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