2019: Regard restructuring as prerequisite for voting any party or candidate, says Anyaoku

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has advised Nigerians to regard restructuring as a prerequisite to vote for any party or their candidates in the 2019 general elections.
Anyaoku spoke on Wednesday in Lagos, at the 10th Memorial Symposium of the late National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), chieftain, Chief Abraham Adesanya.
The late Chief Adesanya was a politician, lawyer, activist and deputy leader of NADECO, a pro-democracy movement formed in 1994.
He died on April 27, 2008 at 85.
Anyaoku, while addressing the topic – ‘Leadership and the Future of Nigeria’, said Nigeria would not achieve an enduring political stability and socio-economic development if not restructured into eight federating units.
According to him, there is the need to go back to the 1960 and 1963 constitutional arrangement to pave the way for national rebirth.
“Nigeria retrogression started during the military intervention in 1966. They dismantled the foundation of the country’s structure, stability and economic progress.
“The civilians also contributed to the problems with their brand of politics which promoted increased divisiveness and corruption.
“To solve this problems, we need to we need to restructure in eight federating units, the six Geo-political zones, create a Mid-West region and create a Middle belt federating units.
“It would now be left for each unit to decide if and when to create zones if there is a cry of marginalisation.
“We need to avoid national disaster by agreeing to adopt a restructured true federalism. Therefore, I urge Nigerians to only regard restructuring as prerequisite for voting for any political party or their candidates”, he said.
Anyaoku described late Adesanya as a symbol of authentic combination of loyalty to one’s ethnic group and country.
He said he promoted and protected the interest of the Yorubas, democracy and the interest of Nigeria as a whole.
“He was devoted to the fight for democracy in Nigeria and he incurred the wrath of Abacha with an attempted assassination on his life in 1996.
“He was a political activist, a patriot and the defender of the truth and public interest, ” he said.
Also speaking, a former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), said he had a good relationship with late Adesanya until his death.
Abubakar said he relied on late Adesanya’s advice to pilot the transition of democracy in Nigeria.
“I had a good relationship with him when destiny brought me to be the Head of state of the country.
“I commend organisations that fought to bring democracy to Nigeria and NADECO was the leading organisation.
“I relied on his advice and others to pilot the transition of democracy in Nigeria, ” he said.