Don’t take over our waterways,Afenifere tells Reps

…Says restructuring only way out

The Afenifere Group in the United Kingdom and Europe has urged members of the Nigerian House of Representatives to restructure the country rather than sponsoring bill through the back door to take over water ways in Nigeria.

The Group in a statement on Sunday July 3, 2022 by its Secretary, Engr. Anthony Ajayi, said the water resources bill being sponsored by the Chairman of House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), is an attempt to take over water ways by the federal government.

It said such bill cannot address the sundry challenges militating against development and growth of Nigeria.

The Group noted that the Nigerian state cannot continue to patronize practices that weigh on development, weaken potentials and mock collective sensibilities, adding that it’s time to address experiences that kill creativity and personal initiative in the country.

The Group said, “The current fraudulent arrangement has been deliberately foisted on the country even further, with the imposition of the fraudulent 1999 constitution that ensured not only the underdevelopment and destruction of every facet of Nigeria but the unfair and criminal transfer of every resources. Nigeria cannot develop and grow like other countries as long the current structure is still in place.

“The current structure has given rise to insecurity, poverty, unemployment and anger pervading the entire country. We need a new structure to achieve true federalism including a new phenomenon in the Nigeria’s political history.

“We appeal to our lawmakers to understand that the idea for restructuring is aimed at ensuring balanced national development, unity and peaceful co-existence.

“Nigeria should be restructured otherwise government should allow regions where people are clamouring for self-rule to go on their separate ways and make life worth living for their people.

“Yoruba nation in particular has what it takes in terms of human and material resources to stand as an independent and well-prosperous country.”