Former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, has suggested that Nigeria should use the occasion of her 57th Independence Anniversary to tackle her problems headlong and admit that only restructuring is the way out of her problems.

Ohakim, in a statement issued in Owerri, Sunday, said: “This year’s Independence Anniversary reminds all of us that 57 years ago our leaders conquered tribal, economic and religious inclinations and secured the independence of Nigeria, with the dream of building one, united and prosperous country.

“This dream of our founding fathers who came from across the country of a Nigeria where everyone will be free to achieve greatness for himself and the country has not been achieved, as the country is bedevilled with myriad of man-made obstacles on our march to unity, peace and prosperity.

“This dream, and of course, the unity of our country, was put to the severest challenge seven years after our independence as the nation was thrown into three years of civil war, where estimated figures say millions of people paid the ultimate price and voted for one, united and prosperous Nigeria.”

The former Governor expressed regret that 47 years after the civil war Nigeria has not scratched the surface to realise the dream of her millions of heroes past who laboured for her, with some paying the ultimate price. “This is evidenced by the unpardonable level of bad governance, nepotism, marginalisation, and in some cases outright brutishness against some sections of the country as if some life do not matter.

“A 57 years old man should, faced with the realities in the country, have sober reflections over his life and engineer means to resolve his problems so that he can attain greater peace, unity and prosperity.”

Ohakim drew the attention of “those who think that a restructured Nigeria will only benefit the oil bearing regions of the country because of oil money, to the fact that the people of the oil bearing regions will have no special privileges because of oil. “The reason is simple: the economy of the world is shifting from oil economy to Clean Energy and Information and Communication Technology. China, USA, India and OECD countries have since rolled out their timetables for phasing out fuel driven automobiles. This situation is not made any better by the USA’s plan to produce shale oil.

“If Nigeria continues to hold on to oil and refuses to take the right actions and restructure the country, in the next 15 years we may be forced to drink our oil. This is not the kind of Nigeria our founding fathers fought for.

“Rushing to Abuja every month to share revenue among the states and LGAs has only created very ugly entitlement mentality among our leaders. To allow this cycle to continue means keeping Nigeria in the Intensive Care Unit for long.

“Apart from the harsh economic conditions in the country, there are several agitations going on in the country. While most people still believe in a united Nigeria, the 57th independence anniversary should provide us the opportunity to address the issues.

“That is why the call for restructuring Nigeria holds huge attraction to many now more than ever. Irrespective of our political divide, let all of us join hands and ensure that that Nigeria is restructured.

“Our political history shows that Nigeria moved from regionalism to states, local governments and more states. Now there is urgent need to restructure Nigeria again to strengthen the unity of our country.

“Every part of the country has what it takes to be economically prosperous. Restructuring will therefore enable them to look inwards and develop their areas and grow at their own pace without the encumbrance of an Almighty Federal Government with burdensome Exclusive Legislative Powers.”

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