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Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Obadiah Mailafia has
Lamenting over the spate of insecurity, Mailafia condemned the silence of the international community on the situation in the country,
Malaifia,who spoke in an interview,noted that about 100,000 people have been killed in the country, coupled with 3 million turned internally displaced refugees therein.
“And yet there is no expression of compassion from the world community of nations. I suspect that they want millions to die so that they can sell their weapons… Ultimately, Nigerians will have to decide whether they want to live together for the foreseeable future.”
He also condemned the North’s position on the declaration by Southern governors and Senators ,advocated ban on open grazing, restructuring, constitution review and state police.
He said:“Well, I think everybody is now on the restructuring bandwagon. The main opposition is from the North. And this is because they have benefitted enormously from the egregious inequities of the illegitimate 1999 constitution. Kano, for example, receives monthly disbursements to 44 local governments, with the highest numbers of legislators in the National Assembly. All because General Abacha came from Kano and he gerrymandered the constituencies to favour his people. The only hope of salvaging our country, as far as I am concerned, is through restructuring of the federation to ensure justice, fairness and equity for all.
In principle, I also support the idea of state police. In the sixties, we had the Native Authority police in the North with their well-starched uniforms and batons. They carried so much authority and were respected by all. Petty crimes did exist, but armed robbery was unheard of.
Policemen that spring from the community will be more effective in controlling crime because they would tend to know the family that produced the thief. I, therefore, support the state police. But with a caveat. First, the training must be rigorous and national.”
He faulted the position of those insisting on open grazing, maintaining that the practice was abolished by a verdict on Suit no AB/26/66 on 17th April 1969, delivered by Justice Adewale Thompson of the Abeokuta Division of the High Court.
He advised President Muhammadu Buhari against moves to force aggrieved groups into being part of Nigeria.
He acknowledged the right of the South East to ask for secession, adding that there must be a system that would give people the option to remain part of the country or leave it.
“We need to work towards a referendum so that people can elect to go their own way or remain part of Nigeria. Another option is that communities that want to group to form a new country should be free to do so.”
Condemning the President Muhammadu Buhari All Progressives Congress-led administration for mismanaging the country, he recalled predictions by the West that Nigeria is a failed state.
He added:“if Nigeria is a failed state, there are only 3 options left: the leaders can come together and try to salvage our country; second, the international community can rally support for rebuilding the state and salvaging our country from the jaws of catastrophe; and thirdly, we just have to honestly agree that the company is insolvent and must go under receivership.
“Unfortunately, with the crop of people I see in power today, I have no reason to feel any comfort. They are a wicked brood of vipers. They have ruined our country and they are insisting on using force to keep the ramshackle edifice together – and on their terms!”
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