President Muhammadu Buhari has warned those calling for the restructuring of Nigeria to desist, describing them as unpatriotic individuals.
Buhari in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said his administration will not bow to threats and undue pressure from the agitators.
A number of socio-cultural groups including Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere, as well as Niger Delta agitators and individuals have renewed the call for restructuring of Nigeria.
Recently, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor E. A. Adeboye added his voice urging President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure Nigeria to avoid the possibility of break up.
However, in the released statement, Buhari dismissed the recurring threats as unpatriotic outbursts, adding that the government would not take any decision against the interest of 200 million Nigerians.
He said, “The Presidency responds to the recurring threats to the corporate existence of the country with factions giving specific timelines for the President to do one thing or another or else, in their language, “the nation will break up.
“This is to warn that such unpatriotic outbursts are unhelpful and unwarranted as this government will not succumb to threats and take any decision out of pressure at a time when the nation’s full attention is needed to deal with the security challenges facing it at a time of the Covid-19 health crisis.
“Repeat: this administration will not take any decision against the interests of 200 million Nigerians, who are the President’s first responsibility under the constitution, out of fear or threats especially in this hour of health crisis,” the statement read in parts.
There have been consistent calls by Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere among others for the restructuring of the country. They have argued that the present arrangement of the country is lopsided and may not gear toward desired development.
