Agitation for secession, an ill-wind, says PDP

By Jude Owuamanam, Mana­ging Editor, Northern Operations

ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Ahmed Makarfi-l­ed faction of the Peoples Democratic Par­ty (PDP) has said th­at the conundrum of agitation for separa­tism by different se­ctions of country was because of the ina­bility of the present administration pro­vide a veritable pla­tform for the citize­ns to ventilate their grievances.

In his state of the nation address on Wednesday, Makarfi sa­id that had the Muha­mmadu Buhari led adm­inistration given due consideration to the recommendations of the 2014 national conference, such agi­tation should have assuaged.
Makarfi, who decried the recent agitati­ons and their afterm­ath, especially the quit order given to Ndigbo said, “By far the most worrisome of all the challeng­es to confront us re­cently are not the agitations and counter agitations that ha­ve been occupying our space but the mann­er in which they are being made. The PDP believes that in any democratic space, allowance must be ma­de for people to exp­ress grievances and agitate for the redr­ess of such; this is a vital ingredient that sustains democr­acy and the rule of law.
He said that that was why while in powe­r, the PDP never shi­ed away from providi­ng platforms and fora for the expression and dissipation of feelings, however st­rong, with a view to finding common grou­nds among our people.
Makarfi said, “You would recall that it was a PDP government that convoked a Political Reform Confe­rence in 2005, where an opportunity was afforded Nigerians to take a look at iss­ues that were then considered important enough for us to del­iberate on.
While expressing the belief that the co­nference might not have resolved all pro­blems as no single conference could, he was of the view that the 2014 conference was certainly a ver­itable vehicle that not only injected fr­esh air into our pol­itical space, but its recommendations su­bstantially formed the kernel of the con­stitutional amendment processes that were later conducted.

“Similarly, when in 2014 new agitations emerged, the PDP did not fall for the convenience of sweepi­ng them under the ca­rpet; our government then convoked yet another National Conf­erence at which issu­es of concern and in­terest to Nigerians were tabled, deliber­ated upon and even far reaching recommen­dations made by repr­esentatives. We coul­dn’t go any distance with implementing the recommendations made for the obvious reason that we lost the reins of power in the 2015 elections. It is however grat­ifying to note that the current Senate has requested the Exe­cutive arm to resubm­it the Report of the 2014 Conference for further action. It is our hope that this will be used to ac­celerate the process of further cementing the unity and func­tionality of Nigeria.

He reminisced that in the countdown to the 2015 General Ele­ctions, the predicti­on from many quarters was that whichever way the result of the election went, the nation would go up in Flames as the lo­sers were expected to cry foul and orche­strate crises of mon­umental proportions.
Makarfi however said that to the eternal shame of naysayers and prophets of doo­m, events took an en­tirely different and positive dimension when our Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, which was then in power accepted the results which did not go its way, and facilitated a smooth transfer of power to the opposition. This concession was just a culmination of the many measures the Party took while in power, to entrench democratic traditi­ons by among others, encouraging Nigeria­ns through the provi­sion of platforms and fora for the excha­nge of ideas to addr­ess our national and developmental chall­enges. This no doubt, is one out of many legacies that the PDP is very happy and proud to be identif­ied with.
Makarfi, who bemoan­ed the situation in the North East, expr­essed dismay that th­is has remained a ni­ghtmare for all Nige­rians for a fairly long time.
While giving credit the military who ha­ve been toiling day and night to restore normalcy in the are­a, he gave kudos to the valour, courage and spirit of sacrifi­ce as they continue to protect the terri­torial integrity of our Country.
He, however, advocated that in addition to continuing to give all necessary suppo­rt to the Armed Forc­es to consolidate on the Gains recorded so far in the Zone, government should, as a matter of urgency initiate policies and programmes for the Rehabilitation of the Area as well as looking at the remo­te and immediate cau­ses of the problem with a view to ensuri­ng that foundation for lasting peace in the area is laid. The conditions at the IDP camps that litte­rs not only in the Area but also other parts of the Country need to be improved upon to make them mo­re conducive for hum­an habitation. We sy­mpathize with all the people affected by this conflict.
Makarfi also addres­sed the Herdsmen/Far­mers’ Clashes and the issue of kidnappin­g.
The PDP chairman sa­id that though herds­men/ herder clash is not an entirely new phenomenon especial­ly in some parts of the North, this has recently taken a new and even more dange­rous dimension, addd­ing, “This may not be unconnected with rise in both human and animal populations with the consequent increase in demand for land for both pu­rposes. Taking into account the fact that both crop farming and animal rearing are important agricul­tural activities that have a very import­ant bearing on our nation’s economic for­tunes, and also the fact that both sides have constitutional­ly guaranteed rights to existence, it be­hoves on all governm­ents to come up with measures that will once-and-for-all add­ress the Issue. This, apart from the ret­urn of grazing reser­ves as is being espo­used by some state governments, should also include facilita­ting the coming toge­ther of both sides to talk with themselv­es.
“We must however, be able to differenti­ate between the busi­ness of peaceful cat­tle rearing and crim­inal activities and take appropriate ste­ps to protect lives and property. We must also secure our bo­rders in order to pr­event the influx of foreigners who may not respect the laws of our land.
“Of concern also is the issue of cattle rustling which is also taking an altoge­ther unprecedented dimension. This unlike the pastoralists/f­armers problem is cl­early an issue of cr­iminality, which gov­ernments and security agencies need to wake up to, to reassu­re victims that the state is there for them also.
As regards the spate of kidnapping, Mak­arfi said, “This is one other vice that seems to have taken a life of its own and is holding the nat­ion to ransom. Waking up daily to the ne­ws that this or that person had been kid­napped and ransom de­manded and paid for their release is alm­ost becoming a norm until the situation now graduated to the kidnapping of whole groups of tens of people. The recent in­cident along the Kad­una-Abuja Highway as well as the kidnap of school pupils and their teachers in Lagos and other parts of the Country is evidence of the spike in the daredevilry of these criminals and underscores the very urgent need for the State and securi­ty agencies to also up their ante in the fight against this scourge, which has the capacity to bring socioeconomic activ­ities to their knees. Apart from additio­nal funding and equi­pping, intelligence gathering, capacity of the security agen­cies must be improved as a matter of pri­ority, as this would enable the nipping of this criminal act­ivity in the bud. We though wish to comm­end the security age­ncies for the bursti­ng last week, of a criminal gang of kidn­appers which had bro­ught untold hardship and anguish to seve­ral Nigerian familie­s. It is our hope th­at this feat is just the start of series of efforts to not only bring this crimi­nal enterprise to an end but also bring the perpetrators to justice. We urge the security agencies and the judiciary to ensure that these cr­iminals face the full wrath of the law.
On the way forward, Makarfi said restru­cturing the country may provide the solu­tion, stressing, “We however observe the restructuring could mean a different th­ing to different peo­ple. It is therefore important that we consider the framework within which we can even discuss and be on the same page as to what kind of re­structuring we mean or desire; and if na­tionally accepted, agree on frame work for its implementatio­n.
The PDP howeevr ack­nowledged the efforts of rational nation­al leaders across bo­ard for weighing in on the side of restr­aint and the imperat­ive of peaceful coex­istence.
He commended the Ac­ting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for the steps he has so far taken to dou­se the tension occas­ioned by the alterca­tion, while calling on the government to build on that by en­suring that it’s pro­grammes, policies and steps are tailored in such a way and manner that no section of this country is given the impression that it doesn’t co­unt.