PLANS are on by The Companion, an Islamic organisation, to organise a national dialogue on the desirability or otherwise of restructuring the Nigerian federation.

The decision to the effect was taken at the weekend in Abuja at the expanded national executive council, NEC, meeting of the Muslim organisation, which drew delegates from its districts nationwide.

The confab, billed to take place in Lagos on October 24, will be the fourth in the series by The Companion, an association of Muslim men in business and the profession.

Musibau Oyefeso, a lawyer and national Amir (president) of the association, who presided over the NEC meeting, said the proposed national discourse “is The Companion’s modest contribution to help chart the course for good governance in Nigeria and harmonious co-existence among its people.”

He added that “there has being a lot of antagonism and suspicion by protagonists of restructuring  and those opposed to it, to such an extent that Nigerians are now somewhat confused as to whether or not it will  be of any benefit in our continuous search for progress and national re-birth.”

Participants at the meeting which included Abiodun Olasupo, member of the House of Representatives representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/ Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency of Oyo State, resolved that The Companion should “shop for speakers from across the country to make the discourse an all inclusive affair in order to help resolve the contentious issue of restructuring.”

Another major feature of the expanded NEC meeting apart from presentation of reports from the districts was a health talk by Abdul-Jelil Kelani, an imam and a pharmacist at the National Hospital on “Drugs and Managing Health Challenges at the age of 40 years and above.”

Noting that there were many ailments associated with old age, the pharmacists urged Nigerians to adopt healthy life-styles to reduce the effects of such and cultivate the habit of periodic medical check-ups.

—  Jul 31, 2017 @ 12:30 GMT