By Ayodele Oni
Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has maintained that Nigeria may remain an “all motion- no movement nation,” if its constitution is not reviewed before the 2023 general election.
Pa Adebanjo declared that ”if my son emerges as a Presidential candidate of any political Party, I will not support him if Nigeria is not restructured.”
The Afenifere chieftain made the remarks during a biweekly meeting of Yoruba Global Council, (YGC), a body of progressive Yoruba sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora, tagged “The Platform”.
Chief Adebanjo commended the body for bringing themselves globally to promote unity, as well as protect the interests of Yoruba sons and daughters home and abroad.
He applauded the missions and the visions of the group, insisting that if Nigeria is not restructured before 2023 election, Nigeria will continue to dwell in the same problem.
The Yoruba leader maintained that the Buhari Regime had deliberately ignored the restructuring of the country which was part of his central campaign mantra.
Chief Adebanjo revealed that he advised Asiwaju Bola Tinubu that before becoming the Presidential flag bearer of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he should, in the first place, negotiate the restructuring of the country.
He pointed out further that the national conference recommendation was still there for any government that is sincere with the issue of referendum to work on; saying the excuse of rancour among ethnic nationalities should not be an issue.
While accusing the Buhari led government of insincerity, he emphasised that for the country not to be disintegrated further, necessary constitutional actions must apply to appease those that have been sidelined in the scheme of things.
“Even those that came into office advocating federalism like Tinubu, Osoba, Akande. You remember how they came into office under restructuring, they now say restructuring is not their priority.
”I implore you to invite Bola Tinubu, Segun Osoba, Bisi Akande and others to this platform as well. Ask them why they derailed, advise them to persuade Mohammadu Buhari to restructure Nigeria before 2023 elections.”
He insisted that the 1999 Constitution foisted on the country by the military was a fraud and there is the need to revisit the law guiding how Nigerians agree to live together.
“How can you say a product of the fraud would amend the fraud?
“They cannot rule us under the rule of the thumb and those of us who fought for democracy will keep quiet? No, it can’t work.
“In 2021, Buhari telling me Nigeria’s constitution is not negotiable? What a balderdash! What an insult! That is not the agreement we made with the founding fathers.”
Spokesperson of Yoruba Global Council, Prof Lere Amusan, had highlighted the missions and vision of the group to Chief Adebanjo to include the restructuring of Nigeria, which could only be a palliative measure to solve many pressing challenges Nigeria is facing today.
”Right now, people are in need of material gains, basic necessities of life, education, health, good roads and hospitals and when these things are fixed due to more wealth redistribution, then we will have lesser fights about security, corruption, tribalism and nepotism.”
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