Governor, Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Wednesday, has reminded the Buhari administration that Nigeria is not under military rule, and advised the federal government not to dismiss calls for the restructuring of the country.
Ortom also urged the federal government to respect other people’s views instead of dismissing same as ‘unpatriotic outbursts.’
The governor’s advice, which was contained in a statement by his Spokesman, Terver Akase, indicated that he was responding to the presidency’s recent reaction to the statement made by the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, who suggested that the way out of the myriad of socio-economic problems in Nigeria would be restructuring of the country.
He noted that the constitution of Nigeria as a democratic nation guarantees freedom of speech to all citizens, adding that the country was not under a military regime which suppresses the right of the people to voice their opinions about challenges facing their country.
The governor emphasised the need for the federal government to listen to the views of the people and evolve acceptable ways of addressing the problems confronting the country instead of engaging in a combative style with anyone who dares to suggest alternative approaches to tackling the challenges.
Ortom added that there was nothing new or strange about Pastor Adeboye’s call, which in his estimation should be considered as patriotic and selfless, positing that great nations of the world got to their enviable status by harnessing and utilising ideas of their citizens, not by discouraging those who made bold submissions on the development of their countries.
A similar call was made by a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Comrade Jonathan Vatsa on Wednesday, when he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to heed to the calls by eminent Nigerians for the restructuring of the country.
Vatsa, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, said the drum beats for restructuring of the country is loud enough for the President to hear, adding that “as things are in the country today, I don’t think there is an alternative to restructuring”.
In a chat with journalists in Minna, the former Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, said he believed that the present system of winner takes it all can not take Nigeria anywhere as a country, stressing that every region should go and contribute to the center.
According to him: “It is only restructuring that can bring the best out of every section of this country. This monthly sharing ceremony in Abuja can not help us as a country.”
He also warned that the only alternative to restructuring is what the country should not pray for “because there is strength in togetherness. The country is gradually moving towards the red point of secession. So, I think the President should listen to the calls by some eminent Nigerians”.