Restructure and re-configure the country- Soyinka laments

By Tony Okechukwu
                                                           
The popular Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, has said that there is urgent need to restructure and re-configure the country in a way that would suit all sections in Nigeria.
                                                             
He spoke yesterday, at the 2nd Chinua Achebe International Conference at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, themed, “Wole Soyinka and the Literature of Commitment.”
                                                   
Soyinka, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and a member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Pat Asadu were honoured at the event where the Nobel Laureate, was given a “Life Achievement Award.”
                                                   
Chairman of the event and former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said the leaders of the South West, South -South and Middle Belt would meet in the Middle Belt before organising a mass rally in Lagos, where they would announce a party they would vote for to ensure the restructuring of the country.
                                                 
Speaking at the event, Soyinka said: “I wish to thank you very much for welcoming me with this level of enthusiasm and human rapport. I was saying earlier this morning that I am a part of this institution, UNN.
                                                                 
“I  thank the entire faculty, the Vice Chancellor and my tormentor in chief (Chukwuemeka Ezeife). I was with him in the same podium in Edo where he spoke fervently about something that this nation has been clamouring out aloud for such a long time and that is restructuring and taking to pieces the protocols and strengthening it in a meaningful way, which involves the aspirations of all  peoples no matter where and what religion; or level of society.
                                                       
“There is urgent need to restructure and re-configure the country in a way that would suit all sections in Nigeria. But I am happy  you didn’t invite me to give a speech on that topic (restructuring). I thank you all for this honour, not just the honour but this sense of belonging that you have reignited in me by this turn-out. I am most deeply appreciative. Thank you very much.”
                                                               
 In his vote of thanks, Dr Ezeife praised the Enugu Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the good road network in Enugu.
                                                             
He said: “I thank the governor of Enugu State. When I was coming here, the roads are fantastic. Gburugburu is working. Now,  our guest is in a hurry, perhaps I should not take a long time.
                                                     
“Ndigbo, this is prayer time. Our God works in mysterious ways. Today, the country has been brought from wherever it was to the lowest level.
                                                         
“And today, some people have united the rest of Nigeria. If we pray hard, we can corner what we have been looking for but we require positive thinking and positive prayer. You saw what happened at Awka on the 21st. The conference was fully attended by all people.
                                                         
“Very soon, we will go to Middle Belt and do the same and after that, we will go to Lagos and have a major rally in which we will announce how we will proceed and what party we will use to ensure that Nigeria is restructured. Thank  you for coming to this place to show this man what he deserves.