Okupe To Osinbajo: Save Nigeria From Disintegration Now
The former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan Dr. Doyin Okupe has called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to save the country from imminent disintegration, saying outbursts from various quarters in the country were ominous.
Okupe in an open letter to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo urged the acting president to immediately take decisive steps to arrest the trend.
He said,” The drums of war are becoming extremely loud and are sounding from everywhere. The shouts of injustice, marginalization, inequity, nepotism are deafening… separatists movements are springing up from every part of the land.
“Never in our chequered history has visceral hate with so much outpour of potent venom been spewed publicly in our country. Certainly Nigeria will never be the same again.
“This time around, we have allowed the sword of division to penetrate the very fabric of our unity; even up to its marrow. Because of deep seated anger, frustration and uncontrolled impudence and widespread impunity, outbursts from various quarters and conclaves have crossed the line of civility.
“But we must not allow our sordid and painful past conflict with our present: to do so will be to jeopardize our future, as the saying goes.”
As a way forward, Okupe suggested that a high powered Federal Government Committee be constituted to meet urgently with IPOB and stakeholders in the South East.
Okupe’s letter to Acting President read in parts, “Let a similar committee meet and team up with a committee of the Northern Governors Forum with the aim of evolving strategies to engage in consultations with Northern leaders and stakeholders.
“A similar team may closely interface with militants and stakeholders in the Niger-Delta area.
“Let a strong team from the Presidency, including the Attorney General, meet at different times with the leadership of the South who were members of the confab, and also their counterparts from the North.
“The aim of their engagement will be towards finding a renewed consensus on their previously published agreement or at least redefining what is agreeable now and what still requires further consultation and mediation.
“Part of the agenda of this team will be to resolve once and for all, the issue of restructuring of the federation. All the above activities should commence immediately and must be concluded within six to eight weeks. Thereafter, the Federal Government will collate all the information and come up with a working document within another four to six weeks.
“The final document (not Government White Paper) is now circulated to members of the Council of States at least two weeks before a scheduled meeting which will deliberate on this pertinent national issues and advice the Federal Government on the roadmap to explore towards resolving these national issues.
“May the Almighty God direct you which way to follow, grant you divine wisdom to manage these delicate affairs and give you the courage to do that which is right, just and equitable.”
