Southern Governors Resolutions: 3SG Demands National Referendum
…Insists, governors stance must not be mere words
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – The South-South Study Group, (3SG) on Sunday called for a national referendum to give political stimulus to the last week’s resolutions of Southern governors on restructuring and unanimity against open grazing among others.
The group of professionals stressed that Nigerians at home and in diaspora are waiting on edge with baited breath in expectation that the position of the Southern Governors presents hope for a new beginning.
The 3SG while extolling the Southern Governors on their resolution, charged them not to allow themselves to be cowed by political party loyalty.
In a statement made available to Forefront News, the 3SG, a network of some of the South-South’s leading professionals in the public and private arena, tasked the governors to ensure that their resolutions do not stop at mere words towards lifting the lot of their people from the present servitude and disadvantages that they have been subjected to.
The statement by the 3SG signed by Otoks Dan Princewill also charged the Southern governors not to shy away from articulating the desires of their people in the contested arena between the large majority of progressively minded Nigerians and the few persons determined to foster regression.
The 3SG further said; “The timely intervention by the Southern Governors presents a watershed moment as the nation becomes a contested arena between the progressive will of the people and the regressive whims and caprices of a few.
“It is for this reason that the commendable display of astutely effective diplomatic effort by the Southern Governors across party lines belies the urgency and need for relief as demanded by Southerners of all affiliation.
“On this note, the Southern Governors must realise that now more than ever, regardless of party affiliation, the citizens of Southern Nigeria look up to this collective body of Southern Governors to protect them from rampaging marauders and bandits, to push forward their collective interests and hold many more positive Conferences also involving other Southern stakeholders in the immediate future for the sake of the rapidly deteriorating national state of affairs.
The 3SG while affirming that the resolution of the governors on restructuring was explicit, added that the Communiqué of the Southern Governors explicitly explains what Restructuring; review of resource control, revenue allocation formula, strict adherence to federal character principles in appointments and the shared interests of the Federating States entail.
It further states; “It is pertinent to acknowledge that our festering national ills have been dramatically amplified by a current approach of gross insensitivity to the diversity and the multicultural nature of Nigeria.
“This complete neglect of the most primary characteristic of Federalism by the current Federal Government worsened the already festering national malaise.
“The solutions to our national problems arising from diversity and multiculturalism were clearly stated only with slight differences and variations in the national conferences of 1995, 2005, and 2014.
“Interestingly, the ruling party in its review of the National Question reaffirmed these same solutions based on the imperative of Restructuring.
“What has been lacking is the WILL to go beyond mere words,” the 3SG stressed.
“SOUTH SOUTH STUDY GROUP therefore called for an immediate implementation by Southern Governors of principles of Restructuring within its collective will as it has done with the ban of open grazing”.
It also called for a national referendum preceding any elections to settle these fundamental national issues that will inform the drafting of a new Federal Constitution, saying that; “All well meaning Nigerians can then put hands together to build a new Nigeria of our collective dreams.”
