The chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, (retd) has said that the agitation for separation would not solve the myriads of problems bedeviling Nigeria.
He added that the only solution is restructuring as done in other climes where fiscal and true federalism would be fully implemented.
Nkanang addressing newsmen in his Uyo residence on Wednesday while giving assessment of Nigeria at 60 wondered why people (Nigeria) who had been married for about 60 years would be seeking divorce, noting that the leadership should address the differences and sentiments of every region so that everybody will be given equal right and opportunity.
According to the Akwa Ibom State former Military Administrator, “The amalgamation was in 1914 and independence was achieved in 1960. A person married for 60 years and the other over 100 years and seeking divorce; there must be something wrong.
“So if we have stayed that long, whatever the differences can be addressed. Everybody has sentiment, so if someone is unhappy, you find out why the person is unhappy.
“If we are ready to listen to ourselves, ready to give people equal opportunity, we will make progress but when you don’t and see the other as second-class citizens. It won’t work, because what you are trying to do will be in futility.
“What Nigeria needs now is to restructure. Other countries have restructured. Even Europe has restructured. This European union that were separate entity, they decided to come together economically. UK just came out from Brexit, that’s a form of restructuring. Western Germany and the Eastern Germany that were outside for a long time, they found out that to come together is better. Soviet Union was a massive country, and they found out that if they break, it will be better, that is restructuring, once something is not working for you, you look for another way to make it work. But in Nigeria we won’t.”
Nkanang, however, expressed concern that at 60, the country is still a big disappointment to the black race, adding that we should all blame ourselves for the situation the country finds herself.
He also said the country is blessed with natural resources but lacks good leadership to galvanize them for the common good of all.
“To be very honest, Nigeria is a disappointment. This we have to blame ourselves. There is no way a 60-year-old person can be graded with toddler.
“Those that entered civil service the time Nigeria got independence by now must have retired. Why she is a disappointment is because we are not an island. In the whole black race, Nigeria is the biggest concentration. That is to say the black race has failed.
“We have the human resources, natural resources that God has endowed us with, we need a good leadership to galvanize it and that is where we failed.”
