Restructuring Nigeria: Group Recommends 1963 Constitution As ‘Acceptable Template’

A pan-Edo and Delta states socio-political pressure group known as Mid-West Movement has recommended the 1963 Constitution as the suitable template for restructuring Nigeria.

The group made the recommendation on Wed nesday during its maiden press conference since its emergence in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

The interim management committee chairman of the group, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, issued an eight-point demand to the Federal Government concerning the various calls for the restructuring of the country.

“The Nigerian Federation as currently structured must be deconstructed to be reconstructed through a re-federalisation process, using the 1963 Constitution as the acceptable template”.

According to Dr. Obaseki, although the people of Edo and Delta states will not support any move that can threaten the sovereignty of Nigeria, there is, however, a need for a reconstruction of the Nigerian federation.

He also pointed out some other demands by the group which included that the Federal Government should take all ‘just and equitable’ measures to reign in divisive elements while providing avenues for the peaceful coexistence of the entire Nigerian people wherever they choose to live.

The group, however, warned the government against taking its advice for granted, threatening that the people of the region would stand as a territory on their own.

They further called on the government to live up to its constitutional role of ensuring the adequate security of lives and property of the people of Edo and Delta states from the agitators of secession.

“If the Federation of Nigeria fails to hold under the weight of government’s inability to play its constitutional role and because of the reckless actions of ethnic jingoists, the mid-west territorial area – comprising of its 12 tribes – shall employ, embrace and adopt every available international instruments, conventions and protocols to take its destiny into its own hands as a stand-alone territory to be called ‘Bendel Republic’, or any other such name or appellation our people so choose to adopt,” Obaseki stated.