Agitators Of Restructuring More Patriotic Than Those In Power, Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Reply Presidency

The Presidency has come under strong criticism from the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum over its response to the recent calls for restructuring from prominent Nigerians and groups.

The forum described as “uncouth”, the language used by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, while seemingly responding to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who had warned that Nigeria might break up if not urgently restructured.

Shehu had described the calls as “unpatriotic outbursts” in a statement he issued on Monday.

The presidential aide frowned at, “recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to to do one thing or another or else, in their language, “the nation will break up,” warning that President Buhari would, “not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the Covid-19 health crisis.”

But the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders described Shehu’s response as rude, adding that he sounded “like spokesman of Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt” in the statement.

The forum said contrary to Shehu’s claim that those calling for restructuring are “unpatriotic”, it is those allegedly running Nigeria towards implosion that have exhibited unpatriotism.

It cited the recent appointment of eight Deputy Comptrollers of Customs from a section of the country and alleged recruitment of 535 cadets from North West into the Department of State Services (DSS) as some of the proofs that the country needed to be restructured.

“We are perturbed that instead of giving assurances about rebuilding the country towards inclusivity, the regime is talking down on Nigeria in very intemperate language.

“We want to make it clear to the regime that it cannot cow us by using cantonment approach to national issues. We will not accept turning us to second class citizens on our land not even with threats of arrests or assassinations.

“Should we be clapping for the government and not talk when the Customs appoints eight Deputy Comptrollers from a section of the country? Are we expected to be saying well done when DSS recruits 535 cadets from North West and North East and only 93 from the entire South and North Central?

“If Garba Shehu is not lexically challenged, he should know that those calling for restructuring are more patriotic than those running Nigeria towards implosion. Patriotism is to corporate Nigeria for all and not the sectional idea of Nigeria by the nepotists.

“We will not succumb to their narrow idea of Nigeria fully assured that this too shall come to pass. Therefore, let us restructure now and withdraw from the path of implosion forewarned by patriots at home and abroad,” said the forum.

The statement was signed by Yinka Odumakin (South West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South South) and Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).