eritvnews: NORTHERN ELDERS ACCEPT RESTRUCTURING

Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi has declared that the North is fully prepared for Nigeria’s break up if that will make component parts agitating for separate countries or restructuring happy. He explains his position in details in this interview with ABDULLAHI HASSAN in Zaria, Kaduna state. Some South East leaders have accused Northern Elders of sabotaging efforts to restructure the country. What is your reaction to this.
You see the issue of restructuring is one of the fundamental issues that shape Nigerian history from 1914 up to 1960. In fact, we are not aware of any sabotage, may be the South East leaders were working on assumption. But if restructuring will save Nigeria, I think it is a matter that affects every Nigerian including those in the North and we are ready to engage in it to correct the anomalies in Nigeria starting from 1914. How do you see the agitation for the creation of Biafra Republic.You see, the issue of Biafra is all part of the discussion of restructuring Nigeria.Yes, if Biafra means negotiations, yes, it’s all a matter of discussion, if it means Igbo want to have a country of their own separate from Nigeria, it means a matter of discussion and we are prepared for the discussion.This is all I have been saying that if Nigerians are tired of staying together, they should be prepared to accept divisions instead of remaining in agony and disappointment of one another.Are you saying that Nnamdi Kanu is fighting a just cause.You see, what I am saying is that every Nigerian should be able to speak his opinion about the state of the country, and the country has laws.If  it is discovered that the law of a country is violated, that  some somebody has gone beyond his fundamental rights. the law is very clear on this. What perhaps government is concerned about is that violence was part of Kanu’s agitation to realize his dream by force, I think that is what government is trying to tackle to my understanding. What do we mean by restructuring Nigeria? Restructuring Nigeria may mean adjusting the country to serve better interest of the people.So if Kanu is talking about Biafra, he is free to talk about Biafra and everybody is free to talk about his understanding of the Nigerian state. We are always talking that the Nigerian state is not working and how can we make it to work? And if the best option, is to call for separate countries,(why not)