Why there are agitations for secession, restructuring —Awolowo Dosumu

The Executive Secretary, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation and Co-Chairman, African Newspaper of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Dr (Mrs) Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, has maintained that the 1999 Constitution, which gives enormous powers to the centre is contributing to agitations across the country.

According to her, the 1999 Constitution gives too much powers to the president with which whoever occupies the seat can easily offend the sensibilities of sections of the country other than his, and get away with it.

Dr Awolowo Dosumu disclosed this when members of the South-West Patriots Movement (SPM), led by its National Coordinator, Honorable Oladosu Oladipo, visited her at the Awolowo residence in Ikene, Ogun State.

She added that “It was a situation such as this that gave rise to the current nationwide agitations and clamours for restructuring of the country.”

She said that it was the enormous powers at the disposal of the president that were irritating to some sections of the country and led to hate speeches in some instances, adding that “restructuring Nigeria in line with the 1963 constitution is the only panacea for meaningful development and progress of the country.”

Earlier, Honourable Oladipo told their host that the SPM was in Ikenne to keep her abreast of the preparations for the November 7, South-West Stakeholders Education and Economic Development Summit, holding at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Hall, Abeokuta.

Dr Awolowo Dosumu, who is to present a paper on: Good Governance, Reminiscent of Awo’s Golden era, at the summit, was tasked to avail the SPM of the ideals of Chief Awolowo with which the sage set the pace for the unprecedented progress and development of Western Region in her presentation.

Oladipo said that with such ideals in the archives of Chief Awolowo, the South-West could not continue to grope in the dark, adding that the summit would serve as a springboard for the region to return to the golden era of the past.