Chidi Samuel || A conference organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to debate the National question turned ugly on Wednesday following a comment made by the former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole that advocates for the restructuring of the country are those who lost their meal tickets in the last general election.
The forum to discuss the restructuring of Nigeria is being attended by eminent Nigerians including the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar III.
For about five minutes, proceedings were held up and tempers flared yesterday at the conference on, “The Labour movement and the future of United Nigeria: What role for restructuring.”
Shocked dignitaries watched as former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole was heckled.
In his presentation, Oshiomhole alleged that those calling for restructuring are Nigerians who lost in the 2015 general elections.
Oshiomhole advocated the review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of states and local governments, saying the provision had not been reviewed in the past 18 years in contravention of the law that it should be reviewed every five years.
He argued that most of the wealth worked for by the working class had been annexed by the political class.
In his view, the federal system in terms of structure and revenue sharing formula can not lead to even development.
Shrugging off the opposition to his view, Oshiomhole told the gathering: “I am not here to do anybody’s job. I just want to share my thoughts with you. And I will be surprised if any one of you will agree with what I want to say. I want to plead with you, allow me to state my position; then you can disagree.
“That is the tradition of organised labour. And, of course, if there are some people who have other issues; …I just want to plead with you that what is at stake; is not me. What is at stake is our country. And the country is yours. The country is mine. The country is ours.”
Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto said Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable despite recent agitations for the restructuring of the country.
The Sultan, however, advised the Federal Government to revisit the issues of revenue allocation and federal character to allow for true federalism.