By Clifford Ndujihe

SOME Igbo groups have restated the need to restructure Nigeria into fiscal federalism to pave the way for rapid socio-economic and political development, puncturing the impression that the South-East geo-political zone has been pacified to drop the restructuring quest.

restructuring

Igbo groups that are insisting on the restructuring of the polity include the Igbo Youth Movement, IYM; Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, and Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT.

Speaking on the issue, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, who is IYM Founder, ECA Secretary and ILT Deputy Secretary, said: “The ongoing narrative that the South-East has been forcefully and violently pacified, is patently false.

“The celebrations that certain elders have helped them quench the restructuring gale blowing through the land up till a few months ago is fiction.

“A military invasion was carried out in second week of September at Afaraukwu, a huge propaganda onslaught was unleashed to force down a particular narrative. Agitators were declared terrorists and then proscribed.

“People in certain quarters clinked champagne glasses and congratulated themselves and mocked the angry youths, that their agents among our people has helped them, as usual, put down the agitations.

“However, no matter the conspiracies in high quarters, no matter the complicity of the so-called leaders to paralyse the demand for restructuring and, by extension, ensure the sustenance of the unjust status quo, the truth is resources deployed to save the status quo by attempting to crush the agitation to restructure Nigeria, is a wasted effort.”

Urging the presidency to stop the continued delay to restructure Nigeria because it could throw up consequences, he said: “Only an early engagement of the angry youths in a dialogue and the restructuring of Nigeria can guarantee peace.’’