The Ijaw Youth Co uncil (IYC), has expressed sadness at the alleged jaundiced statement credited to the former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon who said restructuring of the country is impossible.
President of IYC Worldwide, Barr Roland Oweilaemi Pereotubo, in a statement on Monday, regretted that the ethnic plurality narrative bandied by the octogenarian lacks moral and historical objectivity.
“We watched with utter dismay the view expressed by the Former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon over the raging argument of restructuring.
“The reason advanced by the ex-military leader that Nigeria’s restructuring is not possible due to the ethnic plurality in the Country lacked all moral and historical objectivity.
“That can never be a reason to refuse the demands for restructures balancing of the country.
“Has Gen Gowon forgotten so easily that Nigeria was well restructured in the 60s before the military toppled the Government of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and decolonised the Country with its inimical unitary decree?
“In the 1960 and 63 Independent and Republican Constitutions, even a pupil in primary school today knows that there was a restructured Nigeria within the three regions.
“On the unending argument about derivation, of course, Nigerians cannot forget that it was Gen Gowon that altered the 50% derivation principles for the regions on the basis of production.
“There may not have been crisis over restructuring and derivation of natural resources had Gowon not abrogated the provisions of derivation in the 1963 Constitution to satisfy his war urge.
“Was there no ethnic groups in the Country when the 1960 & 63 Constitutions restructured the Country and provided for an acceptable derivation principles?” the Ijaw youth leader disclosed.
He added that until Nigerians sit together and enact a constitution that is acceptable to all and sundry, peace might continue to elude the country.