Adesanya promoted and protected the interest of the Yorubas, democracy and the interest of Nigeria as a whole- Anyaoku

Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, on Wednesday described late NADECO chieftain, Abraham Adesanya as a symbol of authentic combination of loyalty to one’s ethnic group and country.
Anyaoku made the statement at this year’s Memorial Symposium said late NADECO chief promoted and protected the interest of the Yorubas, democracy and the interest of Nigeria as a whole.
Anyaoku said: “He was devoted to the fight for democracy in Nigeria and he incurred the wrath of Abacha with an attempted assassination on his life in 1996.
“He was a political activist, a patriot and the defender of the truth and public interest.”
Anyaoku, while addressing the topic: ‘Leadership and the Future of Nigeria’, suggested that the country, to achieve an enduring political stability and socio-economic development, should be restructured into eight federating units.
According to him, there is the need to go back to the 1960 and 1963 constitutional arrangement to pave the way for national rebirth.
He said: “Nigeria’s retrogression started during the military intervention in 1966. They dismantled the foundation of the country’s structure, stability and economic progress.
“The civilians also contributed to the problems with their brand of politics which promoted increased divisiveness and corruption.
“To solve these problems, we need to restructure into eight federating units: the six geo-political zones, create a Mid-West region and create a Middle belt federating unit.
“It would now be left for each unit to decide if and when to create zones if there is a cry of marginalisation.
“We need to avoid national disaster by agreeing to adopt a restructured true federalism. Therefore, I urge Nigerians to only regard restructuring as prerequisite for voting for any political party or their candidates.”