The Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, yesterday warned against pushing Nigeria into precipice, saying no country survives two civil wars.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Director-General of DAWN Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye, said crises happening in the country was a sign of frustration and pent up anger.
He lamented that the country was not being run equitably, warning that the country is being pushed into the brink.
”We are no longer running an equitable country”, he said, warning that, “little by little we are pushing to precipice. No country survives two wars. If anything happens to Nigeria, the whole of West Africa. War has not resolved anything”.
While pointing out that crises happening in the country is a sign of pent up frustration, The DG said:”I won’t blame those agitating for secession. Some people are benefiting from the inequalities that is why they are opposing restructuring. Until those things are addressed, we will keep pushing for the precipice.
“We must take concrete measures to prevent Shasha scenario. These issues need to be properly addressed to have a peaceful coexistence”.
“We need to ensure that Southwest is safe. It produces the highest GDP in the country. If Southwest fails, the whole country will fail.
“The danger is real and present. If serious things are not done, we will lose our country. Feathers must be ruffled to save Nigeria”.
He also expressed worry over arms in the country, calling on the federal government to them mop up.
He said:”Arm flooding is a failure on the part of the Federal Government. The federal government has a primary duty of stopping flowing of arms into the country and mopping up the existing ones. The federal government has a lot to do on security”.
Oyeleye also chided the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan over statement that utterances of Southwest governors motivated the attacks on some northerners .
”We must always ensure there equity and stop making incendiary statements. The Senate President has become partisan. He has left the realm statemanship to partisanship”.
On the open grazing in these region, Oyeleye said lauded steps taken by the Southwest governors, saying open grazing is obsolete in the 21st century.
He said :”Banning open grazing is the step. Open grazing has to be eliminated”.
” Enforcement has to be part of open grazing laws. It is the duty of governors to enforce laws on grazing”.
While stating that anyone interested in cattle rearing must do it through ranching, not by open grazing, he disclosed that very soon some private investors would begin ranching business in the region.
“Ranches will soon spring up as the private sector will be coming to set up ranches. We have done the position paper to the government on it”, he said.
