Southern Nigeria doing everything to make Northerners accept restructuring – Ohaneze Ndigbo

President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, has stated that the Southern geopolitical zone of the country is doing everything to convince the North to accept restructuring.

Nwodo stated this during the 2017 interactive forum of Enugu Regional Association (ERA), University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He said restructuring of the country would help to diversify the economy as states would start harnessing natural resources in their area rather than the present situation where thirty six states depended on crude oil money to run their states.

“The only way for the country to be among world strong economies is to restructure the country so that every state will look inward on how to generate revenue to develop their states.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo is happy that the South East, South-South and South West geo-political zones are already convinced on the need to restructure the country.

“Presently we are making frantic effort for the north geo-political zones to see the urgent need for the country to be restructured,” he said.

Nwodo, who was represented by Mr. Alex Ogbonna, President of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Enugu State, said the restructure does not mean that Nigeria had been divided but would translate to true federalism in which all the federating states would be economically viable and not depend on federal monthly allocations.

“It’s unfortunate that some states today in the country cannot run their states or pay civil servants salaries unless they receive Federal monthly allocation,” he said.

The President General described ERA as an intellectual engine room which could fast-track development since the association had professors from different fields of study.

In a remark, President of ERA, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, said restructuring of the country was necessary but noted that before restructuring, the country should create one more state in the South East to make it six states like other zones in the country.

“All the geo-political zones in the Nigeria have six states, it’s only in the South East that we have such an imbalance.

“Restructuring Nigeria will help move the county to the next step as it will bring healthy competition among states on development and make them economically viable,” he said.

Okolie said ERA is an association for senior staff in University of Nigeria Nsukka with members from Enugu and Ebonyi states.

Okolie explained that membership was open for male and female senior staff from Enugu and Ebonyi states.

“The aim of the association is to promote unity among members and advance socio-economic and cultural interest in the region.

“Over the years, the association has gone through some transformations as well as expanding in membership,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction on the contributions of members in UNN and the country in general.

Earlier in a remark, chairman of the occasion Mr. Matthew Agu, the Executive Director, Funds Associate Ltd Enugu, urged governments to tap into the intellectual capacities in ERA to provide required knowledge that would help to develop the country.