Restructuring: Longer delay may be catastrophic for the Nigerian Federation
Calls over restructuring of the Nigerian Federation have in recent times drawn more attention. The growing nature of the subject is apparently moving from the embryo stage to assume a campaign-like posture. The evolving dimension of the subject with reverberating calls, is apparently pushing it beyond the stature of stunted growth under which it had stagnated over the years. Practically, it appears the worsening of collisions of several forces of disturbances observably manifesting from the defects of dysfunctional structures which are unable to speak to the needs of present realities, may not be too far from sight when critical perusal is given to dissect the increasing calls to restructure the Country.
More importantly, the aggregation of voices from hitherto silent personality, can also be easily spotted without much contest as a spurring parameter gradually building up towers towards a campaign for restructuring. Hence, the compounding effects of aggregating perceptions, expression of thoughts and canvassing arguments over the necessity of political and socio-economic restructuring of the Federation as the pragmatic solution to the myriad of troubles vitiating the Country, has gradually built a sedimentation of perception informing a growing posture of increasing call for restructuring, with apparent show of will to adopt same from some quarters. The prevailing situation is thus, presenting an atmosphere where hitherto indifferent stakeholders have come to reconcile with the need to embrace the idea of restructuring the Federation.
It has well been argued that such restructuring would give expression to dynamic reorientation for reorganisation of political and economic formations in the Country, with parameters which in the long run would pull the Country out of the collision of irreconcilable forces enmeshing the Federation in the dire of regurgitating mess. The perceived over-concentration of power in the centre, which as argued, bends the defining structure of the Nigerian Federation more closely to a Unitary system of Government has been argued to be hostile to the characteristic reality of the diversification, heterogeneity, complexity and enormity of the Federation, and as a result, counter-productive to the possibilities to firmly govern the Federation effectively to achieve the desired growth and development needed for appreciable living.
As recent reality continues to pose stormy winds with ugly development, some political stakeholders most recently are beginning to see reasons why the situations must be faced with sincerity to frankly embrace the appropriate strategies necessary to pragmatically address the colluding storms. However, it appears that while the reality has dawned on many who with enlightened minds have found the reason why such structural redefinition of the Federation is sine qua non, many who apparently may be satisfied by sectional or better still selfish dispositions, whose interests are well served under the prevailing state of nation, may never show support or worse still, display hostility to frustrate such move.
It would be recalled that the Governors for the Southern region of the Federation had in a resolution reached in a recent meeting over the prevailing chaos in the Country emerged with a concensus now popularly tagged the “Asaba Resolutions.” The resolution which so far had attracted the reactions and hostility of some political gladiators had the significance of restructuring as one of its standing pillars. The position that the worsening security, economic and social matters in the Country cannot be reasonably addressed without restructuring may not be contestable, given the need to proffer firm local solutions to the myriads of socio-economic and political turbulence destabilising the entire Federation. It is apparent that the heightening of these turbulence has assumed clumsy dimensions demanding firmly close attention which only structural redefinitions can profoundly address.
Registering the necessity for restructuring, the Chairman of the South West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu on Wednesday has again asked the Federal government to lighten its shoulders by decentralising the excess weight it has appropriated over time. According to Akeredolu, the prevailing arrangement is the major cause of friction in the country and reason for politics of bitterness. Giving economic perspective, Akeredolu who stressed that the current system is not sustainable, averred that the Federal government should only coordinate the economy and receive royalties. In his speech at the Public Hearing by the Senate Committee on review of the 1999 constitution in Akure, the Ondo state capital, he was quoted, “All the agitations of the peoples of this country must be looked into with a view to improving the economic power of the average citizens. The best way possible is to allow each region flower in its areas of comparative advantage. The behemoth called the Federal Government must shed the excess weight unduly appropriated over time. It is the major cause of friction. It is the reason for the politics of bitterness. It explains why everyone wants the power at the centre. It promotes ethnic chauvinists and encourages mediocrity. The new law must view, critically, the current misnomer which sees the Federal Government appropriating humongous amounts for moribund agencies whose duties overlap with those of the states. The fiscal policy of the Country must be restructured to encourage ingenuity and uncommon resourcefulness.
“The Federal Government should only coordinate and receive royalties. The current system is not sustainable. All of us are beginning to appreciate this fact. The current exercise will derive its legitimacy if taken to the people for revalidation. Nothing must be taken for granted. Everyone must be treated as an equal partner in this whole enterprise of nation-building. The constitution of a country should reflect the aggregate of the realistic expectations of the components parts which form the union. It is the basic law which must define the powers and responsibilities of the offices created to serve the people. lt must address the possible areas of anxiety. Nothing must be taken as given. All aspects of concern must be looked into with a view to reaching a consensus. All disparate aspirations must be harnessed to evolve a national ethos. No section of the Country must feel shortchanged.
“The document produced must be a true reflection of collective bargaining and concessions secured in an ambiance of frank exchanges among members of the same family. The current attempt at Constitution amendment should be taken beyond the usual jamboree conceived and executed to arrive at predetermined result. The 1999 Constitution has been described as a document which tells lies against itself. It was just decreed into existence by the departing military. This explains the several amendments in barely two decades of its existence. The current exercise, therefore, must not toe the path of the previous attempts at tokenism. The basic law of any country must not be reduced to frivolities reflecting preferred whimsies. lt must not be oppressive of the minorities. Its provisions must indeed give teeth to the primary purpose for which the government exists.”
On a similar note, a former governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, on Tuesday has also said only restructuring can end the escalating criminality, banditry among other forms of insecurity in the Federation. According to him, those fighting against restructuring are beneficiaries of the near failed state of the nation. Obi who spoke at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, during the Association of Nsukka Professors’ 4th Adada Lecture, tagged ‘Restructuring, Security Challenges and Development,’ was quoted: “Security is the most vital ingredient in a country’s existence. Any government which fails to secure the lives and properties of the citizens has failed. Unfortunately, today, we have seen the impact of insecurity in our Country. Now that we have found ourselves in this mess, the best thing to do is to restructure the Country. The engine of our problem in Nigeria is restructuring and until that is done, things would continue to go wrong. It is when we do this that national development can take place.”
The necessity for the Federal Government to work in tandem with the Federating components (State Governments) giving expression to all levels of the architectural spheres of the organs of government to redefine the working structures of the Federation is paramount. The irrational navigation around the prevailing circle has only thus far, accumulated scorecards of precipitation which has brought the Federation to a status where it is defined as ‘a failing State.’ The Federal Government need not to wait until the Country is rounded up in definition as a ‘Failed State’ before taking realistic-prudent actions. The argument of some critical observers have brought the Federation under such conclusions of a ‘Failed state.’ However, those who belong to the school of optimism still believe there is light in the tunnel for the Federation. It is therefore, pertinent that the Federal Government come to terms with the present realities staring at the face of the Federation, and thereby appropriately embrace enlightened perspective by displaying honest posture to engage all State Governments to reconcile all the working parameters to recondition the structural definitions of the Federation. It is primely significant and alarming to salvage the Country from the claws of albatross and perceivable catastrophe which are still much more avoidable, should firm steps be taken timely. Tarrying longer in the woes of the prevailing situation may not hold any goodwill for the Federation.
