Benue Killings: Southern Leaders Call For Restructuring.

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom

Some leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum on Wednesday reiterated the need for the country to be restructured.

The leaders maintained that there must be a change of the constitution that will pave way for true democracy.

They said this during a condolence visit to Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, at the Government House, Makurdi, the State capital.

Adebanjo, according to Punch, who also spoke on behalf of the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, described President Buhari as “a dictator, tyrant and autocrat.”

He urged Nigerians to reject any election until the country was restructured.

He said, “The true constitution that could have helped the country was the 1954 constitution which gave us true federalism but it was rejected, what we have now is the constitution imposed on us by the military.

“The present constitution has given too much power to the President which makes him the most powerful leader in the world. We should not go to election without restructuring so that we can have true democracy where justice reigns.”

Adebanjo also berated the Federal Government for not checking the excesses of the herdsmen.

He said, “If Buhari and the APC are interested in keeping this country together, they must resolve the herdsmen issue. And to Benue people; you are too educated, too civilized and mature for people who do not know how to read and write to intimidate you in your own land. No one should dominate another.

“How can Buhari say you must accommodate your fellow even when your fellow is killing you? We must join hand to fight for the freedom of the south and the middle belt; we must change this constitution that makes us a prey.”

The leader of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nwodo, in his remark, asserted that the only way to end the crises ravaging the country was to restructure Nigeria.

Nwodo said, “The problem is that since the military took over and handed over a forced constitution on us, Nigeria has remained divided, whereas there was growth under regional government. Restructuring is imperative and if we continue like this, Nigeria will die in seven years.”

A South-South leader, Air Commodore Tony Inyang, also threw his weight behind restructuring of the country.

He said, “If the governor has the full control of the security, he will be able to deploy such when he gets intelligence report and this will avert any crisis. There must be Nigeria, but a Nigeria with justice and fair play.”

A former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Emeka Ezeife, commended the anti-open grazing law and urged other governors to enact their own.

Ortom also insisted on restructuring, saying, “I have joined in the restructuring debate following the pains we have passed through and the conspiracy by some people to kill our people.”

Others in the delegation are a former governor of Ebonyi state, Sam Egwu; a former governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Mimiko; Dr. Bala Shagaya, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Banji Akintoye and Afenifere’s spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.