OWN CORRESPONDENT, Abuja | Thursday 10.00pm.
MORE than 100 political leaders from southern Nigeria met in Lagos on Wednesday to reaffirm their commitment to the radical restructuring of the country’s federation. They are calling for a devolution of power to the south and the splitting of the army into regional units.
The meeting was held in order to define a strategy for next year’s proposed elections that were promised by new military leader General Abdulsalam Abubakar. Since the West African country became independent in 1960, southern Nigerians have complained about what they believe to be northern domination.
Abubakar has meanwhile met foreign ministers from Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana and Liberia at his presidential vill to discuss their recent efforts to end to the conflict in Guinea-Bissau.
Abubakar heads the 16-member west African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), of which the mediating countries are members. The group was led by Ivorian Foreign Minister Amara Essy.
On Wednesday, the foreign minister of the Cape Verde islands, Jose Luis Jesus, told reporters in Praia that the Guinea-Bissau government and rebels who oppose it would not hold more talks, as had been planned for Tuesday.
The Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries has been involved alongside Ecowas in efforts to resolve the conflict which began on June 7. A ceasefire was agreed on July 26, but violations have been reported.