As Nigerians await the much-touted restructuring under the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, some prominent people in Kwara state have canvassed a plebiscite to determine their preferences for the geo political zones of their choices when the need arises.

But if the restructuring would take the form of granting autonomy to the states under the federation, the people said they would opt to remain in the state and slug themselves out “for survival.”

Kwara state is a multi-ethnic state comprising of the; Yorubas, Hausas, Fulanis, Nupes, Barubas , Kannikes among others. But the state has overwhelming population of the Yorubas consisting of about 12 out of the existing 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The people had since the existence of the state in 1967 been living harmoniously among themselves leading to its appellation as a state of harmony.

In separate interviews with The Guardian in Ilorin, former Secretary of Egbe Afenifere in Kwara Chief Wole Oke and former Chairman of defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chief Iyiola Oyedepo described Kwara as a predominant Yoruba state but with a caveat that other nationalities could make a choice of where they want to belong in the event of geo political zones restructuring.

According to Oke, “any restructuring that may determine where Kwara state should be properly grouped among the existing geo political zones in Nigeria or even a return to regional governance should not be a problem. Already, this state is a multi ethnics one. Therefore any proper grouping should see the Nupes and the Barubas going to the Niger state where their kith and kin reside.

“Geographically, River Niger has naturally divided us in this country. This natural division is such that any population of people below the river falls within the purview of the South West geo-political zone of the country. In Ilorin for instance, if you remove the Yoruba elements from the ancient town what will be the population of those remaining? Linguistically, they are Yorubas. It will therefore be inappropriate for them to be grouped with the North.”

Speaking on the same development, Oyedepo said if the restructuring would follow one of the major principles of restructuring, which is using of the natural yardstick of ethnicism, the Yorubas in Kwara should be grouped among the South West geo-political zone where there is the largest population of the Yorubas in the world.

Oyedepo, one of the leading figures of the ‘Oto Ge’ political movement, added; “the Nupes too should meet their people in Niger state where there is the largest concentration of their kith and kin. But if the restructuring will not alter the existing structure but grant each states autonomy under a true federal system, we can still remain where we are at present.”

He alluded to Willink Minority Commission Report of 1957 where ethnic and minority rights issues were addressed to allay the fears of the minorities in the state, just as he recommended the conduct of a referendum to resolve whatever grey areas that may arise in the “proper placement” of Ilorin in the event of a return to regional governance.

Oyedepo’s concept of an ideal restructuring would be of a dream come true of “a new Kwara” where justice and equity would be the watchwords of all the citizens irrespective of religion or ethnic differences in order to engender the sense of belonging.