Posted by From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
Elder statesman and Chairman of the Peoples National Conference (PNC), Chief Anthony Enahoro, has reaffirmed his call for urgent overhaul of the nation's political and economic structures before presidential elections, if the country is to avoid an unprecedented anarchy and break up.
Elder statesman and Chairman of the Peoples National Conference (PNC), Chief Anthony Enahoro, has reaffirmed his call for urgent overhaul of the nation's political and economic structures before presidential elections, if the country is to avoid an unprecedented anarchy and break up.
This, he said, has become imperative due to the widespread violent, mass protests and arson that trailed the April 14 governorship elections which, he warned, was likely to be aggravated by the more crucial presidential election.
Chief Enahoro, who spoke on Wednesday in Benin, through the Media and Publicity Secretary of the PNC, Wale Okunniyi, said he had earlier warned the nation to quickly take the path of popular restructuring under the supervision of credible national leaders before delving into elections.
'The elder statesman is deeply concerned at the violence and tension already generated by the aftermath of last Saturday's elections and may facilitate a national stakeholders' intervention, if the situation degenerates," Okunniyi added.
Enahoro, who said the PRONACO peoples' constitution adopted last year by the People's National Conference is now at the public domain, advised politicians to quickly embrace its provisions as the minimum negotiating framework for a new Nigeria.
Enahoro, Okunniyi further disclosed, carefully studied political build up in the country before advising Nigerians in December 2006 to choose popular national reformation before embarking on elections but the political class did not heed his counsel.
'If the ruling class is sincere about constitutional restructuring in line with true federalism and democratic tenets, it is achievable within the next one and half month after which we can be confident to build elections and other paraphernalia of governance in Lagos . The PNC 29-point resolutions, a product of the two year effort of the people of Nigeria can be of great assistance," Okunniyi declared.
He, however, said it is not too late for the ruling class to embrace the wisdom of the octogenarian political icon given the dangerous turn of the elections. Enahoro is expected to convene a strategic assessment meeting of key leaders of thoughts to review the ongoing transition shortly