Prominent activist and cultural leader, Chief Gani Adams has opined that the only way out of Nigeria’s lingering institutional problems is to restructure the country constitutionally.
Adams, who is the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, said this during an appearance on Arise TV on Sunday where he discussed various issues in the aftermath of the peaceful #EndSARS protests by Nigerian youths and the subsequent carnage perpetrated by hoodlums across the country.
Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland is chieftaincy title last held by Moshood Abiola before his death in 1998.
Adams, who was also the factional leader the Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), stated that;
We have to know the genesis of the grievances of the youths regarding EndSARS. Part of their demands included a change in the constitution.
According to Adams, the youths have sacrificed a lot to push positive change in Nigeria, stressing; “After they were attacked by the military on Tuesday, a lot has happened”.
He explained that the realisation that Nigeria’s constituent units are too dependent on the federal government for security hit hard, with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu admitting he was not in charge of the situation.
The activist insisted;
If we continue like this, the future of Nigeria is bleak. That’s why I’ve clamoured for restructuring.
Adams suggested going back to Nigeria’s 1963 republican constitution because “it was the only constitution written by the leaders of this country. If Nigeria doesn’t restructure, it will break as soon as possible”.
In his view, if Nigeria were to revert to regionalism, it shouldn’t go back to the three regions of 1960 but the current six geopolitical zones under the 1999 constitution.
Among other things, Adams blamed a lack of education and unemployment for the arson and looting witness across the country over the past week, saying;
Most of the kids committing these atrocities are not up to 20 years old, most of them are not employed.
Adams went down memory lane to when he benefitted from free education and free health while growing up.
He stressed;
If you have education till secondary school, you will know the implication of engaging in crime. If you take education away from your children, you will have problems.
Most of the urchins that were destroying property live under the bridge. They know they have no future.
The cultural leader revealed the role he has played in deescalating the civil unrest in Lagos state, even though the political leaders of the southwest region didn’t reach out to him.
Adams revealed;
Of all the southwest governors, none of them has called to ask what I can do. Even if I was not Aare Ona Kakanfo, as someone who headed an organisation of about six million (OPC) people, they should have contacted me.
You cannot try to douse tension without proceeding solutions. We can’t move forward without going back to our constitution.
Read Also: #EndSARS: Thugs Set Police Station Ablaze In Orile Iganmu, Lagos (Videos)
He also alleged that the wanton destruction of property by hoodlums in Lagos state was sponsored by politicians, adding that he could prove his statement.
Watch a short video of his interview below;
If anybody would know what happened in Oriole, Gani Adams would … Thank you Gani for speaking up! pic.twitter.com/R4VLZlmZJB
— Being Human is not Enough (@realdanielemeka) October 25, 2020
