The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has stated that it would be injustice to coerce President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the 2014 Confab recommendations, convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan, since he (Buhari) was not part of it.
This was made known by the Chairman of Forum, Abdullahi Adamu, at a two-day retreat opening ceremony organized by the NSF in Katsina State.
According to him, those who want the President to implement the recommendations from the report do not know what it entails, as it is a fallacy borne out of ignorance and there is nothing radical about it.
“Some of the agitators for restructuring are urging President Buhari to implement the report of the Jonathan conference because they believe the country’s political and economic future lies dormant now in the report.
“It is unfair to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to implement a report to which he was not a party. He was not privy to its underlying philosophy or its primary objectives. Where would he start from?”
Adamu stated that although it treated restructuring extensively, it actually fell back on status quo. It is mealy-mouthed about fiscal federalism.
He also noted that the clamour for State Police at the conference was deafening, yet the conference only recommends what it called “second tier policing” in the country, with the modalities for implementation worked out between the centre and the constituent units of the federation.
The Group’s Chairman said the legitimacy of the Conference must be interrogated to determine whether it was convened in accordance with the extant laws of the Country and not intended to usurp the constitutional function of the National Assembly.
Also, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said, the North must sit down to assess all the debates over the restructuring discourse and take a more informed decision on the issues.
In November, the Southern Senators Forum had urged the President to meet the leadership of the House of Assembly, State House of Assembly and Governors on how to implement the Confab reports.
The Forum noted that the unity of Nigeria should not and cannot be negotiated or compromised under any circumstances, but it has become obvious that the foundation under which the Country was built has become ulcerated.
Also in June, some prominent Yoruba leaders at a retreat organized by Yoruba Leadership and Peace Initiative urged the Federal Government to implement the report of the 2014 National Conference, saying the Country is due for restructuring.
