• It’s no solution to Nigeria’s problems -Ganduje
From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd), has stated that he will only throw his weight behind current calls for the the restructuring of the Nigeria if the process will keep the country united. He told those agitating for restructuring of Nigeria that the move would never get his support if there is any inkling that the nation may split after or during the precess.
He made his view known during a chat with journalists shortly after one- day national prayer rally entitled: Divine Visitation, held at the Victory International Church (Rehoboth Cathedral), Oluyole Extension, Ibadan. The rally was organised by an interdenominational Christian group, Nigeria Prays, which he founded 20 years ago. The South west zone of the group put the event together.
Gowon, who was he military head of state between July, 1966 and August, 1975, a period that included the 30 months civil war in Nigeria, said: “Whoever is calling for the so- called restructuring, should not try to disturb the unity of Nigeria; if that is the aim, my answer to that is no.
“During my time, there was problem of the fear of domination of one part of the country over the other. After consultation throughout the country, we told people the benefits of what we are doing to keep the nation together.
“They all accepted and we were able to create more states so that no state was too big to dominate the other; no state was too small to be ignored as part of the country. It allowed them to play their part to build the country of our dream.”
On the national prayer rally, Gowon said: “Let us be rest assured that our prayers are not in vain. And I can say this with every authority that prayers can solve problems better and faster than generals and soldiers can do with physical weapons of war.
“I have no doubt in my heart that God will honour our collective prayer and intercession for our dear nation and heal our nation of all the challenges facing her.”
Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was at the rally, described the country as a religious nation, but very ungodly, calling for a change of attitude so that Nigerians would be able to match their prayers with hard work.
Meanwhile, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has observed that geo-political restructuring is not the panacea to the nation’s current socio-economic woes, pointing out that Nigerians need to restructure their mindset instead, to return the country to the path of progress.
He posited that the USA is more geo-politically fragmented and has more nationalities than Nigeria yet, it is the strongest nation in the world.
The US, he said, attained its present status because of the ability of its leaders to harness the positive thoughts and actions of its heterogeneous population and not by restructuring the country along geo-political divides.
The governor, who spoke at a social event organized in honour of delegates to a pre-election meeting of the National Youths Council of Nigeria said should devote attention to tapping the potential of its youths for national integration and development.
Lamenting the high prevalence of corruption in Nigeria, he argued that youths are the best segment of the society to lead in the crusade against it in view of their physical and intellectual capacity as well as their leadership potential.
Governor Ganduje stated that his administration has put in place a machinery for constructive engagement of youth in the scheme of affairs, explaining that the appointment of youths into key positions in the government is a pointer in that direction.
On the forthcoming election of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, he advised members to vote for credible leaders would advance the cause of the association, assuring them of the support of his government.
Earlier, the acting National President of the Council, Mr. Ibukunoluwa Oluwole commended the Ganduje administration for hosting their meeting and requested monthly subvention and office accommodation for the state branch of the council, to facilitate their activities.