Northern governors, emirs set up committee on restructuring

The 19 Northern states on Friday took their first major step in preparation for possible restructuring of the country.
The state governors and chairmen of councils of traditional rulers from the states set up a high-powered committee to collate the views and comments of the people of the North West, North Central and North East ahead of any conference on the restructuring.
The committee is headed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who, until May 29, 2015, was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Other members of the committee are the governors of Nasarawa, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and Kaduna States as well as the Emirs of Kano, Zazzau and Gumel as well as the Etsu Nupe and Gbong Gwomg Jos.
The Deputy Governor of Plateau State will serve as secretary of the committee.
The establishment of the panel is one of the highlights of the communiqué issued by the governors and traditional rulers at a meeting in Kaduna.

It was signed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima but read to journalists by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.
The governors said the committee had become necessary because the agitation for restructuring has assumed different meanings to different people.

The committee is expected to come up with acceptable, tenable and sustainable position for the Northern region in consonance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The agitation for restructuring of the country has been on the rise lately with some Nigerians accusing the North of being afraid of such an exercise.

The communique also condemned the recent bloody attacks in Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna and other places.
They promised to take decisive measures to put an end to frequent herdsmen and farmers clashes in the region, but warned against hate speeches in the country.