ABC Nwosu, an ex-minister under former President Obasanjo, has expressed concern about a potential shift in focus in the South West of Nigeria.
He mentioned waking up at 2:30 am, disturbed by the perception that the South West is overly celebrating its influence in the presidency and seemingly neglecting the crucial matter of restructuring.
In an interview with The Sun, Nwosu emphasized the importance of restructuring, recalling a historical conference during General Sani Abacha’s era. The conference outlined a rotating presidency between the North and South, with clear provisions for vice presidents and resource control.
Nwosu expresses the belief that restructuring is essential for Nigeria’s well-being, lamenting that it’s taking a back seat amid celebrations about the presidency.
In his words:
“What woke me up around 2:30 am is that South West appears to be gloating over the presidency and they appear to have given up on restructuring. I’m on my knees begging them.
This country was nearly burnt when an election was annulled. General Sani Abacha set up a Conference because he didn’t want to leave. About nine people were elected from each state.
It was not an appointive Conference. The South West then boycotted it but a few leaders from there participated. I was there.
“I was running a secretariat for the South East. Ojukwu, Ekwueme, and others were there. The outcome of the Conference was published by the Federal Government.
It stated clearly that there shall be a Presidency that will rotate between the North and South. And that there shall be three Vice Presidents. The zone of the President would have had the first Vice President in case the President died.
If we had that, the issue of the Doctrine of Necessity wouldn’t have been there. The Conference was clear on Resource Control. We argued for 50 percent for host communities.
“We said in view of our dependence, let us have a graduated arrangement. We now agreed on 13 percent. The current 13 percent derivation was from Abacha’s government.
Not everything about Abacha was bad. So, restructuring is good. What woke me up is that restructuring which is an existential truth about Nigeria is taking a back seat as they gloat about the presidency.
Time will pass. If the Yoruba ever raise it again”