I’m opposed to restructuring of Nigeria, Yakasai, insists

Everest Ezihe  || Alhaji Tanko Yakassai,  the leader of the Northern Elders Council and former liaison officer to former President Shehu Shagari on Tuesday in Kano reasserted his long-held opposition to the restructuring of Nigeria.

The elder Statesman in an interview with news said that he is completely opposed to the restructuring of the country. His position, to a very large extent, conforms with mainstream position of most northern politicians and elites.

Yakassai maintained that despite the long-standing agitation for the restructuring of the country, nobody has come yet with a blueprint of how the restructuring can be carried out. He, therefore, argued that as long as such blueprint remains unavailable, he will continue to argue for the unity and stability of the country.

“I do not speak for anybody but often freely express my views, like every other Nigerian, focusing on the unity and stability of the country and do not represent any group, which is the mindset of some misinformed Nigerians

”Many of those who are agitating for the restructuring of the country were not born during the amalgamation of Nigeria by the colonial master in 1914. If they were, they would  have a contrary view.”

Yakassai, who is also a founding member of Arewa consultative forum said that his views were not influenced by politics because he does not belong to any political party.

He said, ”I resigned from the ANPP since 2001, so as not only to have absolute freedom of speech but to enjoy his fundamental human rights.”

As leader of the Northern Elders Council, Yakasai stressed that the mission of the Council, among others, is to checkmate the reckless statements of other groups, like the Northern Elders’ Forum.