WHY NIGERIA NEED TO BE RESTRUCTURED

In recent times, there have being agitations from different parts of the country-north, south, east and west. What is this common agitation? It is the call for the restructuring of the country. Though, this agitation is not new as the cry for true federalism in the country has been on since 1966 when the military cease power and ensued unitary system. Though, the 1999 constitution recognized federal system of government, but in reality what is bequeathed is more of unitary system than true federalism. It is now obvious that the present system which gives too much power to center government was not able to solve the myriad political, economic or problems that becloud the country. On top of the problem is the crux; citizen alienation is rife nationwide; to the extent that every ethnic jigsaw component of Nigeria feels sufficiently aggrieved, marginalized and therefore, seeks fairness via restructuring. The question is, if the country is being restructured, will the plight of the citizenry in terms of corruption, economic woes, insecurity, poor education, lack of infrastructure be solved? Or is it that cynics are trying to capitalized on these clamour to enthrone ethnicity, self-determination, or elites espies in its opportunities for media attention, renewed relevance, or career enhancement?
Paradoxically, before now, the call for restructuring was not around the country. Now, restructuring calls emanate tellingly from the east, west, south and north of Nigeria. Eminent Nigerians canvassing for restructuring include, Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande, Wole Soyinka, Ben Nwabueze, Lamido Sanusi, Atiku Abubakar, Balarabe Musa, Alani Akinrinade, Edwin Clark, Emeka Anyaoku, Ishola Williams, Tanko Yakassai, and pan-sectional groups like Ohaneze Ndiigbo, Afenifere, Middle Belt Forums, the Arewa Youths, MEND and MASSOB. Though, the presidency has consistently said that Nigeria don’t need restructuring, that Nigerians need economic development, food on the table and peace to drive-in national development. But, the All Progressives Congress has since set a restructuring committee in last July.
The ruling APC committee on restructuring for true federalism with Governor Nasir El-rufai as Chairman said in its response to clamour and due to the need to clearly articulate it party developmental roadmap for political and constitutional reform, the party set up a Committee on True Federalism to help to give structure to the debate, remove the bile and bitterness coloring the matter and transform the discourse into a nation-building event.
Proponents of restructuring argue that contrary to the view held in some quarters, restructuring Nigeria does not mean the revocation of the country’s unity nor her sovereignty but strengthening its federalism. A restructured Nigerian federalism will strengthen the nation’s economic base by diversifying it into the production of those resources that each state is endowed with and each state contributing to the centre and sharing according to their contribution. That is, through federal government devolution of powers to the states, and the states to the local governments even development will go from bottom-top rather than the present top-bottom.
Also, the bottom-up development model can then provide the critical infrastructure necessary for growth such as electricity, schools, hospitals, water treatment, create jobs and cottage industries for youths and women. And will drive SEEDS/NEEDS and the Sustainable Development Goals objectives. Then, we will have a beautiful country from the North to the South, East to West and from coast to coast. Further, true federalism will challenge the will of Nigerians, bring out our talents and produce a greater Nigeria that we will be proud to bequeath to the coming generation.
The fear of those that are against restricting is not that they don’t desire to see the progress of the country, but they see the clamour for restructuring by some section is an avenue for sussession or break-up some region of the Nigerian union. The President, The Vice President and leaders of all the six geo-political zones of the country have all agreed that the unity of the country is non-negotiable. It is true that the motives behind restructuring vary, yet it's well understood that restructuring can't be orchestrated on a sectional, basis, except by force of violence which at most times fails. It’s that singular realization and the need to avoid violence that propels the clamour for a formalized restructuring of Nigeria. After years of limited autonomy under Spain, Catalonia is demanding the right to self-determination, same goes with Kurds in Irag and the Anglo-phone Cameroon. Though part of Canada, the Quebec region retains its unique characteristics, to the extent that French is its official language. But after die-hard elements toyed with the sensibilities of the units, Yugoslavia violently splintered in the early 1990s. Out of the bitter war came out independent states of Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. Nigeria, after an earlier civil war, cannot afford such senseless bloodletting again.
True federalism does not entail secession. It is an antidote to it. But the alternatives for the country are bleak indeed. For this not to happen, Nigerians need perceptive leadership across the board. This is the least that Nigeria deserves.
In functioning federal states like the United States and Canada, items like police, railways, prisons, marriage, divorce and fingerprints, identification and criminal records are on the concurrent list. As long as power is not devolved, Nigeria will continue to be prone to unnecessary political tension and mutual suspicion among its constituent ethnic groups.
The current practice, in which the Federal Government appropriates 52.68 per cent of all revenues it does not generate, leaving the states with 26.70 per cent and local government areas with 20.60 per cent, is the antithesis of federalism. It is unusual in a federal polity that the 774 LGAs share revenues from the centre when they are not federating units. In the First Republic, Section 134 of the 1960 Constitution and Section 140 of the 1963 Constitution granted the regions 50 per cent of their resources.
Restructuring in itself is a good concept, but it alone cannot solve Nigeria’s problems. What we need is sincerity of purpose in governance and in politics. If we are sincere, this entire problem will be solved sooner than expected.