Nigeria’s restructuring: El-Rufai Committee’s report ready soon

The Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) South East Zone says the All Progressive Congress (APC) is putting finishing touches to the Malam Nasir El-Rufai Committee’s report on Nigeria’s restructuring.

This was contained in a statement signed by its Zonal Coordinator, Chief Stanley Ohajuruka and Acting Secretary, Mr Godwin Onwusi, in Enugu on Wednesday.

According to the statement, BSO candidly want to reassure Nigerians that APC and by extension President Muhammadu Buhari is not against restructuring.

“APC is putting finishing touches to the Malam Nasir Elrufia Committee’s report on restructuring.

“What we disagree with is the undefined agreement of Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s vague promise on restructuring within six months in office,’’ it said.

The statement, however, cautioned Ndigbo to avoid boarding ‘One Chance Bus’, because of our hunger to restructure the current over centralised centre.

“For restructuring cannot be done with Fiat-Executive-Order, without the amendment of relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution, which falls into the rigid cadre,’’ it said.

The statement also stated categorically that the 2023 is the turn of the South East Geopolitical Zone to produce President of Nigeria of Igbo extraction.

According to the statement, our proclamation is hinged on the truism that the rotation convention was introduced in 1999 for equity, justice, peace and unity of our dear country.

“That the rotation convention is meant to erase the fears of marginalisation of any ethnic nationality, hence implant sense of belonging to all Nigerians.

“We are also witnesses on how late Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory was shoved aside from a party he co-founded, in order to appease the South West, and Ogbonnaya Onu was also in the same manner shoved aside, hence the commencement of the rotation of president from the South West in 1999.

“It is as well worthy to note that in spite of unintended consequences the zoning convention train progressively moved North in 2007, South South in 2010 and North in 2015.

“Taking into consideration that our brothers and sisters of the South West and South South are primary beneficiaries of the zoning convention – eight and five plus years respectively; it behoves on all patriots and people of good conscience to accord the South East our due,’’ it said.

The statement noted that the “true position is that since our return to civil rule in 1999, the South East is the only geopolitical zone in the Southern belt that had not tasted the juicy and cosy ambience of the Aso Rock Villa’’.

“We are patiently waiting for 2023 for South East to occupy Aso Rock’’.