What we need is balanced republic not Biafra – Uzodinma

The Chairman, Southern Senators’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma has stated that a balanced republic would give the South-East region a level playing field that would put to an end the agitation for Biafra.

He made this known at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) on Monday while speaking on the topic: “Intellectuals as Critical Stakeholders in Nation Building”, at the 14th Eni Njoku memorial lecture.

At the lecture, organized by the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Uzodinma noted that Ndigbo progressed when there was level playing field in the country before the outbreak of the civil war.

“Ndigbo did so well when the country had a true federal structure that provided a level playing field for individual and collective talents to thrive.

“A true federal structure is what we need to fulfill God given destiny; a true federal structure that ensures equity for all. That is also what we mean by restructuring.

He stressed that the country should return to the pre-independent and first republic, Uzodinma who is the Senate Committee on Custom, Excise and Tariffs appealed to political leaders to actualize the dreams of the founding fathers of the country.

“We must work relentlessly to actualize the return of Nigeria to where power is devolved to the regions as the true federating units.
“A restructured Nigeria will guarantee the South East the sixth State it deserved. It will ensure that Ndigbo have a level playing field in Nigeria.

“It will naturally and logically end marginalization. We must push for restructuring until it is actualized” he said.

He added: “In doing this, we must rise with a strong voice to condemn any separatist clamour.

“We must let our people know that what we need is a balanced federal republic which will guarantee equity to all and not Biafra”, he said.

Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba said the lecture was in honour of Eni Njoku for his contributions to learning in the institution even as a male hostel and an academic building in the Faculty of Biological Sciences in the institution were named after him.

Professor Njoku died in 1974 and was former Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos in 1962 before becoming a Vice Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1966.

Also, in an address, the Dean, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof. Jerry Ugwuanyi said the memorial lecture was started thirty years ago by the Faculty of Biological Sciences, to immortalize Professor Eni Nkoku, the 3rd Vice-Chancellor of the University.

“Our Faculty holds him quite dearly because of his contributions to our growth especially our Department of Botany”, he said.