What Nigeria Needs is Restructuring, Not Division - Ohaneze Ndigbo

Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex socio-political organisation of the Igbo,the solution to Nigeria's problems is not breaking the country but restructuring the country and staying true to federalism instead of favouring the north with many appointments at the expense of the south.

Punch reports that the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze, Chuks Ibegbu said that the group believes more in a restructured Nigeria; a Nigeria that has a level playing field for all sections of the country; a Nigeria that gives each part of the country a sense of belonging.
“For example, in a country of 36 states, the South-East has five states and 95 local governments; while Kano State alone has 44 local governments. The other time, we saw the statistics of recruitment in the Department of State Services with Katsina State alone having 51 allocations. Yet, we have the Federal Character Commission."

“We want the FCC to investigate the recent recruitment in the DSS. Abia State got only six allocations; Enugu State, six; Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, got 51 slots. These are the sort of issues that elicit agitations."

“When there is no level playing ground, do you think people will keep quiet? Abia State alone produces more graduates than 10 states in the North combined, yet you gave them only seven opportunities and gave Katsina 51. "We are not saying Nigeria should be divided, but the issues these young men are talking about should be addressed. Instead, it seems they want people like Nnamdi Kanu to shut up without addressing the issues, judging by the bail conditions (they gave him).”

He said that the issue of secession should be forgone, adding that what Nigeria needs now is restructuring.

“Forget about the issue of secession or no secession; the fundamental issue we are talking about is restructuring of the country. There is the need to look into the more than 200 recommendations in the 2014 Confab report. Restructuring is the only solution to the problems of the country.

“With restructuring, even the issue of corruption would be addressed. What generates corruption? When the system is suffocating people, when the system is not properly arranged, people will be stealing here and there. You cannot stop corruption by force. Even the issue of lopsided appointments is corruption. We have to address the fundamental issues.