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The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum congratulates Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on his victory at the polls after a tortuous and needless rigmarole .
We equally mourn all the innocent souls murdered in the state as thugs and security forces unleashed terror on the state during the March 9 Governorship elections as we ask that all those responsible for the mayhem must be brought to book .
It is the failure to punish such crimes that has encouraged impunity in our system with its unpleasant consequences.
But far more importantly is the urgent need to restructure the country that the unfortunate developments in Rivers have raised once again.
That a few desperate souls backed with Federal might can raise a candidate many Rivers people don’t even know his name till date few days to the election to put a state through such stress shows how dysfunctional our federalism is at present.
This sad development has shown clearly that the powers of the Federal Government can be deployed behind a goat to cause mayhem in any part of the country.
It didn’t start today .It would be recalled that the events that led to the collapse of the First Republic started with the use of Federal Might to enforce minority will in Western Region starting from 1962.
Nigeria has been saved from a major catastrophe with the conclusion of Rivers elections though with deep scars .
We insist Nigeria cannot continue under this dysfunctional arrangement .It must be arranged as a proper federation with the dispersal of the concentrated powers at the centre to the federating units .
This is the only way to elongate the life of Nigeria and build an inclusive country where all sections will live in peace and happiness.
Chief E K Clark
PANDEF Leader
Chief Ayo Adebanjo
For:AFENIFERE Leader
Chief John Nwodo
President General OHANAEZE
Dr Pogu Bitrus
President,Middle Belt Forum
