Olaoluwa Olaoye
Chief Gani Adams, National Co-ordinator of Oodua People’s Congress, a pan-Yoruba group, on Thursday called for true federalism in Nigeria to achieve accelerated development of the country.
Adams, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, made the call while speaking at the 25th OPC June 12 Lecture in Lagos.
The lecture was titled “June 12 as a Catalyst for National Development: True Federalism and Nigeria’s Integration.”
The June 12 presidential election, which was won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was annulled on June 23, 1993, by the dictator, Gen Ibrahim Babangida.
Adams, also Convener of Oodua Progressive Union Worldwide, said without true federalism and proper restructuring, it would be difficult for the country to take its rightful place in the comity of nations.
While describing the June 12,1993 election as a watershed in the country’s political history, Adams noted that 32 years down the line, Nigeria had not made desired progress owing to what he called the absence of true federalism.
According to him, to transform a country, the shape of the polity must change periodically.
Adams said, “We are all gathered here today not only to honor the memory of Aare Abiola and others who died between 1993 and 1998 but also to tell ourselves some bitter truth.
“Nigeria is going through various crises today because some leaders are stubbornly against restructuring.
“In honour of Abiola and other martyrs, I want to say it pointedly that whether anybody likes it or not, this country will be restructured.
“And the earlier this is done, the better for all of us because there is no way we can guarantee peace and security if this country is not restructured.
“If this country is restructured in a way that every locality controls the instrumentality of security, backed by intelligence, the wanton killings of Nigerians will stop automatically.”
According to him, June 12 should be a catalyst for national development, hence the need for political, economic, electoral, and judiciary reforms, without delay, in honour of Abiola
Decrying increasing insecurity, poverty and judicial compromise, Adams added: “We must wage intelligent war against kidnapping in cities, towns and villages and the time for that fight is now through restructuring.
According to him, to honour Abiola, Nigeria’s electoral system must be restructured and decentralised.
“Nigeria is destined to be great but if the attitude of leaders to restructuring and development is negative, Nigeria is going nowhere,” Adams added.
