Let’s dialogue on restructuring – Sultan

Th e Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Mohammed Saad 111, has said the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable, but said Nigerians can sit and discuss its existence for the betterment of all. Th e royal father who was speaking as a special guest of honour at a colloquium on “Labour Movement and the future of a united Nigeria: what role for restructuring?”, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress in Abuja yesterday, said, in doing that there must be respect for one another.“It is good to sit down and dialogue but there must be respect. I must respect you and you must respect me.

And the greatest thing we can do for this country is to always refl ect on our history. “We didn’t fall from the sky, we came from somewhere, we became Nigeria in 1914 through amalgamation. People are shouting that our coming together as a country in 1914 was mistake, but God doesn’t make mistakes. “If God doesn’t want such a thing as Nigeria to happen, nobody could ever have made it happen. So we claim to be very religious but we challenge God, you don’t come out in the open and say you are challenging God. But by actions and utterances, many people are virtually challenging God”.

He further said the colloquium came at the right time as people were eager to meet and discuss issues instead of fi ghting over those issues. According to him, “there are more important things that unite us together as one people than those things that divide us. And when we meet to discuss, we must try and understand one another and I believe in dialogue.

“Th ere is no wrong in you saying I want to be better than I am, but when you sit down and discuss issues, you fi nd out that you are a much better person”. Speaking further, Sultan Saad tasked the organized labour to champion the issue of interest to the unity of Nigeria, adding that such forum is important to bring out issues that would make Nigeria better. “It is important for us to use this forum to bring out issues that are really germane, very important at this time in the history of our country. I expected the organised labour to have been at the forefront of some of the issues aff ecting this country long before now. “Not through strike, even though strike would be the last option, but there are things we need to take much more seriously and make our lives much better.

“But because we have left a vacuum, others came and told us there is a vacuum. So, I challenge you to take up the mantle now, occupy your right position and make good things to happen in this country through your solidarity. You must put personal interest aside.” Former Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshoimhole, in his submission, said those calling for restructuring were those who lost election In 2015. Th e statement didn’t go down well as a mild drama ensued over the submission of the former labour leader that those calling for restructuring must be interrogated and that they may be serving their interests. But in his explanation, the former governor explained that Nigerians should focus more on good leadership that guarantees speedy development. He stressed that qualitative leadership and devolution of power to the state would lead to reduction in corruption at federal, state and local government levels. “We have been in this current democratic dispensation since 1999. Somehow, just after 2015 general elections, there was a power change which Nigerians voted for. Th en suddenly, people who have just lost out just found a buss word called restructuring “Th e last confab organised here by the last president suggested that we created 18 states. I didn’t think it was meant to be implemented.

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