Foundation says agitations will be better addressed with a restructured Nigeria
The debate is themed: “Restructuring: Panacea to National Unity, Peace and Progress…?”
Okenwa said that the proposed restructuring would definitely solve the perceived marginalisation of the South-East and other zones in the country.
He categorically said that the South-East agitation was not intended to divide and decimate the country.
“But the Igbo man wants to be treated fairly and given a sense of belong as part of a progressive Nigeria where all have equal opportunities to resources and political positions,” he said.
According to him, the Igbos remain the only single ethnic nation that have invested and lived in every community in Nigeria, thus an Igbo man is the true Nigerian one can talk about.
“Of course, restructuring means rearranging the structure of the country aimed to give inclusion to each segment of the country, where all is treated with justice and fairness.
“We have seen agitation not only in the South-East but also South-West; what the agitators are demanding is a fair and equitable resources and political positions.
“True restructuring, we make everybody feels like belonging to one Nigeria.
“As a matter of fact, most of the agitators based their reason on the marginalisation of their zones.
“And when the strong reason for an action is whittled down then the agitation will naturally diminish and finally disappear into history,“ he said.
Okenwa, who is the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the Debate, urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to give peace a chance and create platforms for dialogue.
“As a people, we must allow our leaders in the zone to have robust dialogue with the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the country,” he advised.
