A group, Midwest Movement, has threatened to declare Bendel
Republic if the Federal Government fails to address ethnic agitations.
It urged the government to revert to the 1960 and 1963
constitutions, to entrench true federalism.
Addressing reporters in Benin City, the group’s convener, Dr. Don
Pedro Obaseki, said restructuring was the solution to the agitations. Obaseki,
who noted that the Nigerian federation was in dire straits, said the body was
concerned about the country’s situation.
In the movement’s eight-point demand, he advocated
structural deconstruction of the federation, saying the nation should be
reconstructed through a re-federalisation process, using the 1963 Constitution
as template.
Obaseki advised the Federal Government to broaden its consultation
and engagement with stakeholders of ethnic nationalities, including the
Midwest, to ensure restructuring.
Said he: “The uncertainty pervading the country is as a result of
years of injustice, neglect and violation of terms agreed by the founding
fathers at independence in 1960.
“We belong to the Midwest Region and we condemn attempts by ethnic
groups trying to include it in their agitations. We will resist attempt by
ethnic jingoists to annex, attach or conscript the Midwest territory as part of
their territories.”
EyesOfLagos
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