By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The Project Nigeria Movement (PNM) led by elder statesman and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof Ben Nwabueze will next week meet to synergise on how to interface with northern leaders over the restructuring debate in view of emerging position from the north on the restructuring of Nigeria.
Sundaiata Post recalls that the Northern leaders under the umbrella of Friends of Democracy met last week on the issue of restructuring with the resolution that the country be returned to 12 states, among other proposals.
The group disclosed this in a statement signed by its media assistant, Mr Olubori Isah sent to Sundiata Post on Sunday.
According to the statement, the Head of the secretariat of PNM, Olawale Okunniyi, who sent out the notice at the weekend to the leaders of thought informed that the eminent persons we’re expected to meet in Lagos to consider among others, emerging position from the North as well as the plan to initiate a southern synergy to interface with the northern leaders over the issue of restructuring.
Okunniyi, who is also the spokesperson for the Pro National Conference Organisation, (PRONACO), an organisation initiated under the leadership of both the late Chief Anthony Enahoro and Prof Wole Soyinka, similarly hinted of ongoing consultations by PRONACO Action Group, (PRAG) led by Alhaji Shettima Yerima and others in the youth organ of PRONACO on how best to facilitate the proposed independent National Conference on the Restructuring of Nigeria; in the event that all efforts to make government address the restructuring agitations fail.
Recall that PRONACO last month announced that it has already adopted its 2007 Peoples Constitution as working document for its proposed Peoples National Conference scheduled to commence in January, 2018.
In Okunniyi’s words,”We are not leaving any stone unturned in this matter of democratic constitutional restructuring, which is conceived to help the country achieve political stability and economic prosperity of the diverse peoples of Nigeria. So all efforts and initiatives in this regard are already being synchronised to ensure productive outcome”.
The statement informed that the Secretariat of Project Nigeria Movement has commenced informal talks with the Northern Elders Forum, (NEF) Secretariat as well as some members of the Friends of Democracy from the North on how best to move the ongoing debates and process of restructuring forward.
While confirming that plans were underway for a formidable coalition of southern leaders, Okunniyi reminded that PNM Secretariat is already setting up machinery for an inclusive platform of both Northern and Southern Leaders of Thought to negotiate the restructuring of the country towards a new people’s constitution for Nigeria.
Okunniyi said the date for the Pan Nigerian meeting would be announced soon.