Civil Society groups protest at embassies, demand support for restructuring Nigeria

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Four civil society groups stormed three embassies in Lagos on Thursday to demand the support of the foreign nations for the reorganisation of Nigeria’s federating units.

The protest was to show support to the call recently made by a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar at a book presentation in Abuja. Atiku, in his statement urged the federal government to restructure Nigeria along regional lines. This call has in the past few days, attracted a lot of support from eminent Nigerians.

The PUNCH reports that among the foreign missions, where the protesters, led by the Nigerian National Summit Group, were granted audience were those of the United States, Italy and Germany.

There were no officials to receive the protesters at the Indian High Commission.

At the US Consulate on Walter Carrington Avenue, Victoria Island in Lagos, the protesters were received by two US Embassy officials, Jessica Newl and Tim Doren, who were given petition letters addressed to the US President, Barrack Obama.

Addressing journalists during the protest, Executive Secretary of the NNSG, Mr. Tony Uranta, said for President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to prevent anarchy, it should urgently implement many of the resolutions that were passed during the 2014 National Conference.

“A lot of work went into producing that report drafted by seasoned Nigerians from different parts of the country. We cannot sit and watch this nation crumble when we have a workable solution that could set the nation on the part of greater development,” Uranta said.

Speaking at the US Embassy, the NNSG’s Head of Research and Strategy, Mr. Efiye Bribena, said the peaceful protest was embarked upon to call the attention of the international community to the abnormalities of the country’s federal system.

He said, “Restructuring is the only solution we can use to right the wrongs. There is a lot of dissatisfaction among the different ethnic groups and regions and we are saying that the National Conference report of 2014 should be implemented.”

On his part, the National Secretary, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Ahmed Suleiman, said, “We are calling for the restructuring of Nigeria because that is the only thing that will set us on the right path. We think the 2014 confab report would provide ample guidance for the restructuring of the country.”

In her address, the Secretary-General, Youths Arise for Change, Mrs. Vera Okei-Shomefun, said the differences among the ethnic groups needed to be addressed.

She said the Federal Government was not doing well to end the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen in the country.

Overzealous security aides, who wanted to stop the protesters at the US Consulate, had to give up their bid when the US officials agreed to listen to the demands of the groups.


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