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By Olakunle Olafioye
A group, the Directorate of Concerned Patriots of Nigeria, DCPN, has said that the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu may put a permanent end to the perennial call for the breakup of the Nigeria if the government consents to the calls for restructuring.
The national president of DCPN, Prophet Wale Olagunju, while making the position of the group known at a press conference in Lagos during the week, however, said that he objected the idea of restructuring the nation along regional lines, saying that doing so could pave the way for the disintegration of the country.
Addressing newsmen along with the national secretary of group, Dr. Oriade Daniel, the DCPN president pointed out that the DCPN’s proposal on restructuring would usher in development and innovation to the states from the local government, saying, “Texas is a sovereign country and also a sovereign state under The United States of America (USA). We can also see this in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) making Dubai a sovereign state under them. We can also rebuild and restructure Nigeria into a sovereign country to be called The United States of Nigeria (USN) with sovereign states like Kano, Kaduna and Sokoto etc.
“Nigeria has 36 states presently. These 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja will remain as Sovereign states under the United States of Nigeria (USN) as a Sovereign nation while the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja still remains the capital of this new Sovereign nation or country to be called United States of Nigeria (USN). We will also have an Executive President just like the United States of America (USA),” he said.
The DCPN president explained that heeding the group’s advice would bring permanent solutions to the myriad of problems confronting the country including the perennial calls for secession.
“Past leaders failed to tackle the serious problem of agitation, break up and unrest which has been lingering in since after the Biafra war in 1970. This is almost 54 years ago, people have embarked on agitation and called for the breakup of the country till date without any solution. The most important reasons for these actions to be embarked upon immediately without any delay is to put a permanent end to agitation for break-up of Nigeria and also put an end to the many lingering crisis/injustice besetting Nigeria. We just have to tackle this issue of agitation now to avoid another civil war in Nigeria,” he stated.
DCPN president identified 17- point recommendations, expressing optimism that they would bring immediate succour to the hardship confronting Nigerians.
“There is no doubt that Nigeria requires serious attention in many areas but I believe the following should be accorded serious priority attention now:
“As a matter of urgency, the government should fix Nigeria’s power problem and reduce the tariff. They should reduce the pump price of fuel and embark on agricultural mechanization and food security. The government should also look into the plight of the cattle herders and embark on animal husbandry and must ensure security of lives and property,” he said.
He advised the government to bring down inflation and enhance the purchasing power of the naira. Government must ensure removal of immunity and enact laws that will curb corruption and deal with the perpetrators. The government must create job opportunities for the youths restore law and order, reverse all privatization and reduce duties paid on imports, as well as fees payable for vehicle particular/license fees,” he stated.
In his own submission, the national secretary of the group, Dr. Oriade Daniel, said the restructuring being advocated by the group would be devoid of crisis, saying” anything different from the genuine restructuring that we are advocating might lead to war, bloodshed and instability in the country.”
He listed the benefits derivable from DCPN’S model of restructuring to include fostering of healthy competition among component states in the country, grassroots development, laws and policies could be made to suit the needs of individual states among several others.
