A constitutional lawyer of repute and the principal partner of Friends Chambers, Prince Orji Nwafor – Orizu has advised Preisident Muhammad Buhari to as a matter of importance and urgency give full support southern governors on their decision recently in Asaba, the capital of Delta state.
The southern governors recently met in Asaba, Delta state capital under the aegis of Southern Governors Forum (SGF) and among others: banned open grazing in the south, demanded for conference of all the ethnic nationalities so as to decide how to move the country forward and demanded for true federalism and restructuring of the country.
Urging the southern governors to stay without fear, the constitutional lawyer however said that the position of the governors in Asaba was in line with the constitution of Nigeria federation. To that, he said that each state governor was in charge of the land in his state. He added that the federal government didn’t give the herders the power to graze in each state without the consent of the governor.
Hailing the southern governors for coming together like their northern counterparts, as well as saying that he happily shares similar views with Nnamdi Kanu who hailed southern governors for coming together, Prince Orji Nwafor – Orizu said the southern governors were at a time hosted in Benin City, the capital of Edo state by the then Governor Lucky Igbinedion of the state. He informed that among others, the former Governors Mbadinjju and Tinubu of Anambra and Lagos states respectively were in attendance.
He therefore stated that minority states in the north like Benue, Plateau,Taraba and even the Southern Kaduna would support the position of the SGF. He however informed that he agreed in what Southern Kaduna has been saying, more than that of the south.
Observing that the issue of the Fulani herdsmen carrying guns with impunity as what binds the southern governors together to defend each individual state, he regrettably added that if not handled with care, tussle for presidency between the south east and the south west come 2023, might hinder the planned and ongoing union and the aims and objectives will be defeated. Blaming this on the followers of Awolowo and Zik, saying that the disunity between the Yoruba and Nd’Igbo started during the time of politics of antagonism between Zik and Awolowo, he said until the supporters of the duo realised the harm they have been doing to the south, the unity is yet to be realised.
He said: “The south has over the time been marginalizing themselves, not the north. It started during the time of Zik and Awolowo. Untill the supporters of Zik and Awolowo are no more in the system, the southerners will not be united. The Yoruba man wouldn’t want an Igbo man to get anything, likewise the Igbo man to the Yoruba man. Why should Tinubu aspire for presidency? The Yoruba should reorganize and support NdI’gbo, because they have been there and NdI’gbo haven’t. If they don’t come together, tussle for president might hinder their planned union.
Speaking on different agitations in the country, he said: “Those agitations are coming about due to bad government. If there is a government with, among others good road, water, energy, employment, business policies and the country is moving as a country, nobody will agitate.
“If we have a country that: everybody will take JAMB and go on the same level, accommodate the opposition, look into the Federal Character Commission and look into how employments are done.”
