Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Ijaw religious and cultural organisation, Egbesu Brotherhood, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari on comment labelling agitators of restructuring and secession in the country as “dangerous and naïve”.
In an interview with the Coordinator, Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemapadei, the group reminded Buhari that he is now superintending a Nigeria in a democracy and not as 1985 when he held sway as a military head of state.
He said with the agitations across board in the country, it had become imperative for President Buhari to convene a national conference that would proffer solutions to heal the country and rekindle the hope of Nigerians.
He stated, “The demands of Nigerians is restructuring. Judging from Nigeria’s fundamental problems, there is the need for reorganisation of this country in a way that every ethnic group, region will feel fairly treated. This is not too much to ask for, and this will sustain our corporate existence.
“But if Mr. President still continues to maintain that there is no need for restructuring, no need for true federalism, then I fear that we may just be sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
“On Mr President’s comment, I presume that he has not been properly briefed about recent happenings. From his speech, the President probably considers Nigeria of today as same as 1985 when he was a military ruler.
“While Mr. President is making immense efforts to boost the morale of security agents and restore order, we cannot conceal the facts there is a national problem that demands a national attention. National dialogue must be convened. No two ways about it.”