Monarch seeks implementation of 2014 Confab report, restructuring

His Royal Highness Eze Hyacinth Ohazulike has lent his voice to the call for the implementation of the 2014 National Conference report which addressed most of the contentious issues including restructuring of the country.

Fielding questions from newsmen recently in his palace, Ohazulike who is also the Eze Ndigbo, Lagos State noted that implementing the confab report would resolve most of the contentious issues resulting in agitations from different parts of the country and promote unity, justice, fairness and peace.

His words, “My opinion concerning these agitations is that the Federal Government should go back to the 2014 confab report and that is where I stand. If the Federal Government can go back to that report and implement it, they would have addressed most of the reasons for the various agitations because that Jonathan’s confab addressed these issues.

“Without going to that report, it will be difficult to sustain the unity of Nigeria. So, I am lending my voice to those of other well-meaning Nigerians to call for a re-visit to the 2014 Jonathan’s confab report and then restructure this country. After living for many years together, we should look at where things are not working well and restructure the country.

“Biafra agitation did not start today. The youths who are now leading the campaign for Biafra are only re-echoing what their fathers did before. If the elders are 40million now, the youths are 100million, it is therefore necessary for the elders to listen to them.

“For instance, other geo-political zones have six states and one even has seven states, but the South East has only five states and this is cheating. This sort of imbalance should be addressed. You cannot talk about peace without justice, equity and fairness.”

On whether the country should go back to regionalism, the royal father stated that going back to regionalism would help the country and discourage over dependence on oil.

He argued that the discovery of oil had become a disease which made the leaders lazy and only run to Abuja for allocation every month; a development he said would not help the economy and create jobs for the teaming population of youths in the country.

He further said, “Well, those who are championing the agitation probably know more than you and I know. But I believe that going back to the regional system of government will help this country because when we practiced regionalism back in the 60s, this country was productive.

“In the East, there was palm oil, coal which was used to generate electricity, rice, yam and other agricultural produce, so also in the West which had cocoa and the North which had groundnut and other things. Each of the regions did well until oil was discovered. In fact, the discovery of oil has become a disease.

“Instead of doing us good, the discovery of oil has become a disease in this country. Before the discovery of oil, agriculture was the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy and children were encouraged to be productive.  Again, what stops our legislators in Abuja, every one of them from establishing factories within their constituencies thereby creating employment opportunities for their constituents? This will obviously create jobs and reduce unemployment in the country.”

Reacting to the question of whether the clamour for restructuring of the country from the South East has the backing of the political class especially those at the National Assembly, the Monarch expressed hope that at the appropriate time every one of them would identify with the course.

“Right now, even some prominent people from the North including former President Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and others have all joined the call for the restructuring of the country. This shows that nothing lasts forever”

On the quit notice handed to the Igbo resident in the North, the royal father who was surprised at the development opined that Ndigbo travel everywhere and take wherever they live as their own and develop the place, wondering why such sanction should come from any part of the country.
“I’m sure those who said that did not know what they are doing. The chairman of Eze Ndigbo has gone to see the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El’ Rufai to discuss the issue and the governor has promised to handle it and I believe it is coming under control,” he added.
On whether the IPOB leader, Nnamdi kanu was speaking for Ndigbo, he said, “Well, Nnamdi Kanu is a Nigerian from the South East and as such has the right to express his opinion on any national issue. He has done that and incidentally others who share his view, belief and sentiment have identified with him. He has his agenda which he is pursuing.”

Eze Ohazulike commended the leadership of Ohanaeze under Chief John Nwodo for taking steps to unite Ndigbo both at home and in the Diaspora to form a formidable force. “Before now, Ohanaeze was like a ship without a captain, but now we have a captain in Ohanaeze which can speak for Ndigbo,” he stated.

PDP Chairmanship: Why I’m supporting George — Babatope
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Sunday gave credence to the chairmanship ambition of the former deputy chairman of the party, Chief Bode George.

Babatope, a former Director of Organisation in the defunct Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that he was fully in supports of George’s ambition.

He described the former chairman of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) as the best man for the vacant chairmanship slot of the PDP based on his fatherly figure.
“We will struggle hard to produce a strong, effective and result-oriented party chairman, in fact, the Supreme Court’s verdict has affirmed Ahmed Markarfi as the real power house of PDP.

“We are now expecting another chairman and we are going to get that. I am giving my full support for the chairmanship ambition to George because he is the most experienced.
“George being my choice does not, however, have overriding opinion over other members of the party, everybody is welcome to support the candidates of their choice.
“I am picking George because of his experience as a party faithful who will ensure reconciliation of all aggrieved members of the party. Experience is the best teacher,’’ Babatope said.

Babatope, also a former Minister of Transport and Aviation during the late General Sani Abacha’s administration, advised that whoever emerged as the PDP chairman should ensure full reconciliation of all the members.
“Whoever emerges as the chairman of PDP must ensure the full reconciliation of all the members. We need a full house now to fulfill the yearnings of the party.
“The chairman should be a rallying point who will be father to all and I know George very well, he is up to the task.

“What is important now is to have full reconciliation in PDP, everybody is welcome to the party and we want to make our party great again.
“Nobody will be left behind in our reconciliation efforts, even Ali Modu Sheriff is also free to contest for the chairmanship,’’ he said.

Babatope told NAN that the PDP’s door was open to all members irrespective of their affiliation, adding that the party would strive to provide a strong opposition to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

“As far as we are concerned, the door of the party is open to all members irrespective of their alliances; even Sheriff himself is free to contest.

“There has been a report that Sheriff wants to contest for the chairmanship position, why not? He should feel free to announce himself as others have.

“We need everybody and there is no foe in the party, nobody will be left behind; as I speak, efforts are ongoing to have the mini convention slated for August.

“We are poised to give the ruling party, APC a formidable opposition because it has done nothing. We are ready to take over the government again,’’ he said.