The call for the restructuring of Nigeria has continued to mount as another group, Midwest Movement, has vowed to declare Bendel Republic should the Federal Government fail to hearken to the restructuring demands.
This was contained in an eight-point demand the convener of the group, Dr. Don Obaseki, read out to newsmen in Benin, the Edo State capital on Sunday. The group h LD that it has been worried by the mounting tension in the country.
“If the federation of Nigeria fails to hold under the weight of government’s inability to play its constitutional role and because of the reckless actions of ethnic jingoists, the Midwest territorial area shall employ, embrace and adopt every available international instrument, conventions and protocols to take its destiny in its hands as a territory to be called Bendel Republic or any name or appellation our people so choose to adopt.
“The federation of Nigeria is in dire crisis due to injustice, marginalisation and flagrant violation of the terms agreed upon by its founding fathers,” he said.
Obaseki therefore called on “the government and representatives of the people in parliament to consciously heed the voices of reason on the call for a re-federalisation of the country, using all available constitutional means, while factoring the interests and aspirations of all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
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“That government and its officials refrain from and resist the temptation of casting all those calling for peaceful resolution of the current political impasse as mere appointment seekers.
“Government should, as a matter of urgency, broaden its consultation and engagement with stakeholders of all ethnic nationalities, with a view to working out modalities to ease the current avoidable tension in the country.”
Akoko-Edo, Esan, Benin, Etsako, Owan, Anionma, Ika, Ndokwa, Urhobo, Isoko, Ijaw and Itsekiri are the 12 tribes according to the group that will make up the Bendel Republic.
He added that the Midwest region will not allow any attempts to annex, attach or conscript it as part or any part of its near or far neighbours.
Already, there are demands for Biafra, Niger Delta, Oduduwa, Middle Belt republics by different groups across the different geopolitical zones of the country.
