TheNewsGuru

Tag: restructure

  • I’ll ensure Nigeria is restructured in 6 months – Atiku

    I’ll ensure Nigeria is restructured in 6 months – Atiku

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar says he will ensure Nigeria is restructured within six months of his administration if elected.

    He said this at the PDP Presidential Diaspora Campaign Grand Finale held in Abuja.

    Atiku, who was represented by former National chairman of the PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, said that sufficient research work needed to achieve restructuring in Nigeria had been concluded.

    Nwodo is the Deputy Director, Research and Strategy, of the PDP residential Campaign Council ( PCC).

    He said that Nigeria worked better when every region controlled its natural resources.

    The former Vice president recalled that existing socio-economic developments were put in place when regions controlled their resources.

    “When we are talking about restructuring by Executive Order, in the first six months, this country will not be what you are seeing today.

    “This has been worked out and I’m just waiting to be sworn in on May 29 and the plans will be rolled out.”

    He said that Nigeria was a great country, adding that all that it required was good leadership.

    “We will provide that kind of leadership,” he declared.

    Atiku further said that if elected, he would rescue Nigeria from all indices that had portrayed it in bad light.

    He listed his five-point agenda to include education and security, saying that he would restore security to the country by nipping in the bud factors responsible for rising violence.

    Earlier, Director, Directorate of Diaspora Groups, PDP PCC, Prof. Isa Odidi, had said that Nigerians in Diaspora believe that Atiku would articulate and implement the Diaspora Policy Framework to help capture, harness and channel their expertise to the country.

    “Atiku’s government will do more to remove obstacles and create opportunities for Nigerians in the Diaspora to engage in economic development of Nigeria.

    “We all unequivocally support Atiku/Okowa for President and Vice President of Nigeria,” he asserted.

  • Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive – Tambuwal

    Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive – Tambuwal

    The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF), Aminu Tambuwal has said that Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive.

    Tambuwal stated this in his remark at a two-day PDP National Retreat with the theme: “It’s time to rescue Nigeria”, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Tambuwal, who is also the governor of Sokoto State, added that Nigeria must also embrace technology to tackle insecurity, unemployment and other problems confronting the country.

    “Nigeria must restructure its polity, economy, security and ways of doing things. It must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power.

    “This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands on deck.

    “Secondly, we must embrace innovation and technology as a way of life. Technology will solve the youth unemployment time tomb.

    “Technology will improve our agriculture, health, industralisation, education and indeed, it has implications and impacts on all facets of our lives.

    “It is in this respect that we continue to condemn the twitter ban as a retrogressive action that should never have happened,” Tambuwal said.

    He added that PDP remained the only credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and could not afford to fail Nigerians.

    “We must keep hope alive. We can do it. Yes, we can, as Obama would say.

    “The revitalized PDP shall be true to the words of our national anthem, ‘To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign’.”

    Tambuwal added that the PDP was poised to write a new positive chapter for Nigeria.

    According to him, the PDP has learnt its lessons and now ready for power in 2023 to provide hope for Nigeria.

    “A rickety vehicle cannot take Nigeria to its destination as the nation with possibilities for greatness and progress.

    “PDP is now once again a well-oiled, serviced vehicle that will midwife the Nigeria of our dreams.

    “It is indeed time to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria,” Tambuwal said.

    The governor, who described Nigeria’s problems as man-made, said resolving them require a focused, determined, knowledgeable and patriotic organisation of like minds to build the critical mass necessary for a great leap forward.

    “Yes, it requires leadership, with vision and discipline.”

    He listed some of the problems confronting the country to include unemployment, insecurity, low education, inflation, weak naira, corruption, nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry.

    Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana in his presentation titled “An Over View of the PDP”, advised PDP leaders to work together as a team.

    Gana also urged PDP leaders to be dedicated to good governance, respect each other and show the willingness to serve the people.

    “It is very tough process of translating visions into reality, leaders must have a clear sense of priorities.

    “Indeed, effective leadership has a lot to do with the wisdom of selecting a set of priorities. You cannot do everything at once.

    “You must therefore seek the wisdom to decide the order of priorities. Wisdom is therefore a great asset for good leaders,” Gana said.

    Others at the event included former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governors Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

    Also present were former Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke and Chairman, PDP Disciplinary Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi among others.

  • 2022 will be tough if Nigeria fails to restructure —Gani Adams

    2022 will be tough if Nigeria fails to restructure —Gani Adams

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, yesterday, said with the current situation of things in the nation, Nigerians may have to be ready for a tough 2022, if the Federal Government fails to embrace restructuring.

    Speaking during the second edition of the Odo Erelu festival in Lagos, Adams said that as of today, the Nigerian economy is obviously in a terrible condition, while naira is falling on a daily basis.

    His words: “For instance, N700 exchanges for one British Pound Sterling at the moment, while the Dollar is put at N578, and Euro is currently N656, at the official rate. Our naira continues to fall to the global currencies. And this has affected the exchange rates in the global market.

    “The economy is obviously not stable. Prices of essential food and commodities are on the high side. A bag of rice produced here in Nigeria is put at N25,000, while garri, which is also a very important commodity for the low-income earner, is no longer affordable to the people.

    “Today in Nigeria, nothing is free because everything has been monetized. And corruption has taken its toll on the entire system. Meanwhile, inflation and the current economic downturn have triggered the growing spate of insecurity across the country.

    “In Nigeria today, the middle class could hardly survive the harsh economic crisis while the lower class is languishing in poverty. We don’t need a prophet to tell us that by 2022, the naira might still slip further beyond what we can salvage because prices of commodities have gone beyond our reach.

    “From the present economic situation in the country, if President Buhari fails to save the economy from collapsing before December, this year, God forbids, we should be ready for a very tough time by 2022.

    “Federating units will allow each region to be able to harness the social, political and economic potentials of their respective regions. It will boost agriculture and provide effective security for farmers.”

    He also said that many of the evils that befell Yorubaland were as a result of ignorance and failure to celebrate ancestors.

     

  • No 2023 if Buhari fails to restructure Nigeria – Adebanjo

    No 2023 if Buhari fails to restructure Nigeria – Adebanjo

    Leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo has said there will be no 2023 if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to restructure Nigeria.

    “There is no 2023 in my own diary. Get that straight. If he does not restructure, that is the end of Nigeria. He must restructure this country before any election.”

    He said Buhari must restructure Nigeria before any election could take place.

    Adebanjo stated that the president could not keep this country together under the obnoxious 1999 Constitution.

    “There is no 2023 in my own diary. Get that straight. If he does not restructure, that is the end of Nigeria. He must restructure this country before any election.

    “He can’t keep this country together under this obnoxious constitution. Who is he deceiving? He controls the court. He controls the tribunal.

    “He rigs the election and heads to the tribunal and the Supreme Court which he dictates to,” Adebanjo said in an interview with Tribune.

    He said Afenifere once supported Buhari because of restructuring, which he had now failed to do.

    “I have no personal grudge against Buhari. The military, who gave us the constitution, have gone back to their barracks. I want you to emphasise this: for some of the misguided intelligentsia among them and among our people, I have repeatedly said that this constitution is a fraudulent document.

    “The military made it in 1966. They have not rebutted that. I have said it publicly that if Buhari truly loves this country, why is he opposed to restructuring? Why is he hesitant? It is this restructuring our founding fathers: the Sardauna, Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Aminu, Oyibo Ojigwe, all agreed to at independence in 1960.

    “Is he more Fulani than the Sardauna? Is he more intelligent than our founding fathers? I even challenged Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, who are defending all the nonsense the government is doing.

    “The confusion in this country today is because the people refused to address the issue we are talking about.

    When we said they are more corrupt, it is not a case of just blackmailing them. One of the reasons we supported Buhari in 2007 was when we thought he was going to do restructuring,” he said.

  • Restructure Nigeria or risk breakup —Adeboye

    Restructure Nigeria or risk breakup —Adeboye

    The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has counseled the Federal Government to give Nigeria a lasting answer to secession agitations and its economic challenges by restructuring the country.

    According to Adeboye, the reformation of the country must be done “as soon as possible” to forestall a breakup of the various social-ethnic components that make up Nigeria.

    The anointed cleric stated this on Saturday at a 60th Independence Day Celebration Symposium co-organized by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Nehemiah Leadership Institute.

    At the symposium with the theme, ‘Where will Nigeria be in 2060?’ Adeboye offered the adoption of a merger of the British style of government and the American system of government to pave the way for Nigeria’s future.

    The ex- lecturer at the Department of Mathematics of the University of Lagos said, “Why can’t we have a system of government that is 100 per cent Nigerian, unique to us? For example, we started on with the British system of government, somewhere along the line, we moved over to the American system of government.

    “Can’t we have a combination of both and see whether it could help us solve our problems because in Mathematics if you want to solve a problem, you try what we call Real Analysis, then if it doesn’t work, then you move on to Complex Analysis and see whether that will help you. If that fails, you move on to Vector Analysis and so on.

    “I believe that we might want to look at the problems of Nigeria in a slightly different manner. Some people feel that all our problems will be over if Nigeria should break up. I think that is trying to solve the problems of Nigeria as if it is a Simple Equation. The problems of Nigeria will require quite a bit of Simultaneous Equation and some of them are not going to be Linear either – forgive me I am talking as a Mathematician.

    “Why can’t we have a system of government that will create what I will call the United States of Nigeria? Let me explain. We all know that we must restructure. It is we restructure or we break, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that one. That is certain – restructure or we break up.

    “Now, we don’t want to break up, God forbid. In restructuring, why don’t we have a Nigerian kind of democracy? At the federal level, why don’t we have a President and a Prime Minister?

    “If we have a President and a Prime Minister and we share responsibilities between these two so that one is not an appendage to the other. For examples, if the President controls the Army and the Prime Minister controls the Police. If the President controls resources likes oil and mining and the Prime Minister controls finance and inland revenue, taxes, customs etc. You just divide responsibilities between the two.

     

    “At the state level, you have the governor and the premier, and the same way, you distribute responsibilities between these people in such a manner that one cannot really go without the other. Maybe we might begin to tackle the problems.”

     

     

  • Insecurity, Water Bill, PIB, deregulation, restructuring of Nigeria may shape NASS agenda as it reconvenes today

    Insecurity, Water Bill, PIB, deregulation, restructuring of Nigeria may shape NASS agenda as it reconvenes today

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    After a two month annual recess, the National Assembly may urgently look into pressing national issues such as the state of insecurity in the North East, the controversial Water Resources Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and other national issues.
    Thenewsguru.com, TNG in this brief analysis x-rays the various issues that may shape NASS agenda as Nigerians grapple under the weight of economic hardship imposed by the FG.
    During its annual recess, so many ugly developments had cropped up that urgently need the attention of Nigerian lawmakers.
    Still basking in the image of a rubber stamp legislature designed as anything flies, provided is from Mr President, the upper legislative Chambers may need to firm up as the issues at stake could further throw Nigeria 50years behind.
    Insecurity in the North East took a dangerous dimensions last weekend as within 24hours, Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum’s convoy was attacked twice by Boko Haram insurgents.
    The third attack within a space of three months that the number one citizen and Chief Security Officer of Borno State escaped death by the whiskers.
    This calls for a lot of rethinking about insecurity across Nigeria as some roads like Kaduna-Abuja road and Lokoja-Abuja express are now headquarters of kidnappers.
    Nobody is spared because the rich also cry as they must ply the roads to connect their homes and constituencies as the case maybe.
    Disappointed by the deliberate refusal of the Federal Government to sack the longest serving Service chiefs in Nigeria, the North East elders last week for the umpteenth time demanded for their sack.
    This as usual will get no response from the Muhamnadu Buhari led administration that believes loyalty of uniformed men must be retained till 2023.
    Water Bill:
    The controversial Water Bill that was miraculously passed through the backyard in the House of Representatives is one legislative piece that must be properly x-rayed by the Senate.
    The Bill which contravenes the Land Use Act is one piece of legislation that will either properly wear the ninth Assembly the full garb of a rubber stamp legislature or rubbish all the good things this Assembly stood for.
    Opposition that could even push for it to be killed in the Green Chamber is still lumbering since the inception of the ninth House.
    Deregulation:
    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC did not disappoint Nigerians as it was expected that as usual nothing meaningful could have been achieved if the planned strike to force government to reverse price of fuel that was jerked up from N145 to N162 had commenced.
    Market forces will now determine the prices of fuel at the detriment of Nigerians who predominantly live below $1 per day.
    This singular increase has made virtually every consumable item double in prices since it was slammed on Nigerians.
    PIB:
    The Methuselah Bill in Nigeria, unarguably the oldest bill in this clime, finally, will be passed by this ninth Assembly after its snail like speed of over 20years.
    This ninth legislative body is capable of performing miracles and both leaders of Assembly have repeatedly vowed to speedily pass it when crude oil is fast losing its relevance in the world order.
    Nigerians are patiently waiting for the miraculous passage.
    Restructuring of Nigeria:
    Again, the call to restructure Nigeria has mounted the centre stage. It’s no longer a jocular issue.
    A group in the South West has vowed to embark on a peaceful rally on October First, the day the Union Jack was lowered.
    Questions are being asked about the validity of 1914 Amalgamation of Nigeria.
    At sixtty, definitely Nigeria is no longer a beautiful bride and the question of the marriage that made Nigeria possible remains one big question that’s begging for attention.
    The question on the lips of many Nigerians is whether this ninth Assembly can midwife Nigeria via its many lackluster constitutional reviews which is every four years sacrificial offering?
  • Towards restructuring Nigeria (2), By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Towards restructuring Nigeria (2), By Sonnie Ekwowusi

    Sonnie Ekwowusi

    The Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution calls for memorandum on the following subject-matters- gender equality; federal structure and power devolution; Local Government/Local Government Autonomy; Public Revenue; Fiscal Federation; Public Revenue/Fiscal Federal and Revenue Allocation; Nigeria Police and Nigerian Security Architecture; Comprehensive Judicial Reforms; Electoral Reforms; Socio-Economic and cultural rights; Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies; Residency and Indigene problem; Immunity; The National Assembly; State Creation and other matters capable of promoting good governance in Nigeria. With the exception of “gender equality”, all the other subject matters listed by the Senate for consideration for amendment, in my view, are completely in order.

    Considering that section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution has amply provided for the principle of non-discrimination and for equality between male and female in Nigeria, there is no need for another provision on “gender equality” in the proposed amended Constitution. “Gender equality” is a red herring. The appropriate word is “sex” not “gender”. This is why section 42 (1) of the Constitution talks about “sex” not “gender”. “Sex” means “male” or “female” whereas “gender” expansively connotes homosexuality, lesbianism, transgenderism, bisexuality, intersexuality, queer sexuality, abortion, non-binarism, animalism and bestiality. Section 42 (1) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that no citizen of Nigeria should be discriminated against on ground of his or her sex, ethnic group, place of origin, religion or political opinion. So, section 42 (1) protects all women and men from discrimination on ground of sex. This is all we need. So, no need for “gender equality”.

    Let me quickly say that many people and many governments do not understand the real meaning of the phrase, ”gender equality”. The phrase may sound laudable and palatable to the ear of the unwary and undiscerning but the phrase is a Trojan horse used to deceptively smuggle in LGBT rights into a country’s Constitution as in the case of South Africa. I have attended many United Nations negotiations in New York. My experience is that whenever the phrase “gender equality” appears in any United Nations policy document during negotiations in New York, the African Group (with the exception of South Africa which has legalized gay marriage and gay practices) always vehemently opposes the inclusion of the phrase. Why? Because the generic phrase “gender equality” is not given a biological construct (that is, it does not mean two sexes- “male” and “female”- as some of us think it means: it is now given an expansive social construct to include aberrations such as homosexualism, lesbianism, non-binarism, transgenderism, abortion, bisexuality, intersexuality, queer sexuality, animalism and bestiality (legalized in America by ex-President Barak Obama) . Let me shock you a bit: whenever the generic term “gender” or “gender”-based appears in any United Nations policy document it is automatically interpreted as LGBT right or transgender right. The following terms are given the corresponding interpretations in United Nations policy documents: “gender analysis” means LGBT analysis; “gender sensitive” means LGBT sensitive; “gender–based violence” means LGBT-based violence; “based on gender” means based on LGBT status; “gender sensitive schools” means LGBT-sensitive schools; “gender neutrality” means neither male nor female (In fact, many in the U.S. and Europe have gone to court to declare that they are “gender neutral” meaning that they are neither male nor female. These “gender neutral” people or non-binary people crusade for the abolition of a separate “Male Toilet” for males and a separate “Female Toilet” for females in public places such as the airports. They want a “gender-neutral” Toilets for both male and female and transgender people.

    South Africa is the first and only African country, and, in fact, the fifth country in the world to legalize LGBT rights. Perusing through the Constitution of South Africa I discovered to my chagrin that South Africa operates a non-sexist Constitution with a non-sexist language, meaning that South Africa does not recognize any difference or prejudice between male and female. The most significant provisions of the Constitution relating to “gender equality” are found in the Bill of Rights, particularly the section on “equality.” This section contains a general commitment to equality before the law and equal protection of the law, and states that “the state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including “gender”. Now, does Nigerian want to be a gay country like South Africa? I hope not. You see, I have painstakingly presented the forgoing to assist our governments and many gullible people who are often deceived into believing that the phrase “gender equality” means the radical equality between a man and a woman. It is not. LGTB has been outlawed in Nigeria by virtue of the Same Sex (Marriage) Prohibition Act 2014. Therefore an inclusion of “gender equality” in our Constitution, no matter how mildly couched, will entail repealing the Same Sex (Marriage) Prohibition Act 2014 (because the Constitution is the grundnorm of Nigeria), and by extension, legalizing LGTB in Nigeria. Tufiakwa ! So, away with “gender equality”. It is high time Nigeria stopped imbibing barbaric Western lifestyles that are antithetical to Nigerian cultural heritage.

    Considering the low premium placed on human life in Nigeria, section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution should be amended to include the following: “Life begins at conception and every person has an inherent right to life at any stage of growth and development, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria”. In order to enthrone a decentralized and democratized federal structure, we must reduce the powers of the Federal government. In that regard, the Exclusive List in our Constitution should be shortened to include only National defence, Foreign Affairs, Security, Commerce and Currency while enlarging the Concurrent List to include State Police, State Educational system, State Economy, State Taxation, State Health system and so forth. The challenges of fiscal federalism should be tackled by making revenue sharing formula to be inversely related to revenue generation. States producing the oil wealth (if it is still called oil wealth) should get the lion share of the revenue. The current sharing formula which allocates 52.68% to the Federal government, 26.72% to the States and, 20.60% local government councils should be reviewed. More revenue should be allocated to the oil producing States.

    The Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy [Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution] should be made, and, manifestly seen to be, justiciable. Plea Bargain should be abolished in our criminal justice system. In order to decongest the Federal Court of Appeal and Federal Supreme Court, State Court of Appeal and State Supreme Court should be established for each State to serve as the final Courts on many State matters except in some crucial Constitutional issues. To reduce cost of governance, Nigeria should have only a unicameral-Federal legislature. Elected members of the legislative arms of all tiers of government should serve on part-time basis without any emolument. The posts of political aides and political advisers should be scrapped. Provision should be made for the principle of Zoning and Power Rotation to reduce the unending agitation for State creation and secession. The Office of President shall rotate between the North and the South and amongst the six (6) geo-political zones in the country. The office of INEC Chairmanship should rotate between the North and the South and amongst the six (6) geo-political zones. The following subsection 2 should be added to Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution (secularity of the Nigerian State) “All religions are entitled to freedom of worship and the State shall not control or regulate any religion”

  • Nigeria using COVID-19 to restructure economy – Osinbajo

    Nigeria using COVID-19 to restructure economy – Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has said Nigeria is seizing the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic as an opportunity to restructure her economic outlook.

    Osinbajo disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a Webinar organised by the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), with its focus on Nigeria.

    The Vice President, in his speech at the virtual programme, discussed Nigeria’s elaborate national response plan, including the Economic Sustainability Plan, which was produced by the Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC), which he chaired.

    According to the him, government is using the opportunity of the restructuring to remove petroleum products subsidy and getting the electricity distribution companies to give fair deals to consumers.

    “It seemed the sun was beginning to shine quite brightly after the years of recession and its immediate aftermath. Then came COVID-19, possibly the worst economic crisis the world has seen. For us in Nigeria, it was a perfect storm for oil prices, Russia and Saudi Arabia choosing that very moment for a price war. Then, the inevitable lockdowns resulting in closure of businesses, our huge informal economy all but crashed and government revenues fell too by over 40 per cent.

    “But, the silver linings were perhaps, bolder in the dark clouds. The President decided that we could seize the opportunity to reset our economy in a way that may have been impossible, had there not been a worldwide economic crash.

    “I was asked to chair an inter-ministerial team to develop our Economic Sustainability Plan. A plan which we hope will, in the next 12 months or so, avoid a deep and prolonged recession by supporting businesses and households, but perhaps more importantly, addressing long-term structural vulnerabilities

    “Taking into account our economic size and fiscal limitations, we have put together a stimulus package of N2.3trillion, which is just over 1.5 per cent of national income. If other factors like the price of oil and length of the COVID-19 pandemic do not worsen further, these interventions should ameliorate the situation with a mild recession expected of minus 0.59 per cent.”

    “We are also looking at the Future of Jobs programme in technology, taking into account the ‘new normal’, our creative and significant youth population and the need to prepare our economy to be an outsourcing hub, providing services across the whole gamut of possible technology engagements, including animation, software engineering and data analysis.

     

  • Why Nigeria must restructure now – Ohaneze

    Why Nigeria must restructure now – Ohaneze

    Pan-Igbo group Ohaneze has again warned that Nigeria may not endure as an entity if political restructuring of the country is not carried out.

    The Coordinator of Ohaneze Youth Wing in the South South, Chief Arthur Ugwa, gave the warning on Saturday when the group visited the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) in Yenagoa.

    He argued that restructuring the nation would foster even development and ensure peaceful co-existence in all parts of the country.

    Recall that pundits have for long been clamouring for the restructuring of the country to make progress but some political interests appear not be persuaded on the issue, in spite of the multifarious political problems plaguing the country.

    “Restructuring is the only thing that will save this nation from going into extinction. Different regions must be able to manage their resources for accelerated development.

    “Our leaders have been crying for restructuring over the years. It’s incumbent on the leadership of this country to consider this option for a united Nigeria.”

    Ugwa noted that the visit to Ijaw youth leaders was imperative for the South South and South East geo-political zones to continue to build stronger relationships and ensure safety of each other.

    The Ohaneze youth leader warned that Nigeria could no longer tolerate divisive tendencies and that restructuring was the way out for peace and togetherness.

    The President of the Central Zone of the IYC, Mr Tare Porri, said that with current challenges in the country, the way out was for the country to embrace restructuring.

    He disclosed that the group would carry out a referendum on restructuring, ahead of the upcoming general elections and that only people who supported restructuring would be voted into office.

     

  • Nigeria must restructure to develop – Dogara

    …Says truth becoming scarce commodity in Nigeria

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has stated that for Nigeria to develop and realised its true potentials, the country must undertake restructuring.

    Hon Dogara however, argued that for such to happen, there must be wide consultations among the leaders of the various regions in the country.

    He stated these when he received a delegation led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, from Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum comprising of leaders of Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum.

    The Speaker also noted that Nigeria is currently undergoing an epidemic of sycophancy where agents of government that should work for the common good of people interpret what they see as the position of the political leader and take actions based on pleasing them.

    “I have said it before somewhere that in this country, we are in the midst of an epidemic of sycophancy. Where we have leadership, the tendency has always been to look at the leader and interpret what he wants and it is what the leader wants that is done and not what is right and that is an attitude that we will have to change as a people for true progress to come to us.

    “Unfortunately, we are in an era in this country where the truth is becoming very, very scarce. They call it post truth era. That is the challenge, but if we fail to discover the truth, nothing will ever work. I hope that in this journey, you will discover the truth, we are committed to discovering and we will put them through the legislative mill,” he said.

    Hon Dogara, therefore, charged all Nigerians to be citizens of democracy who are working actively to ensure that democracy works in the country, and assured that other than recommendations that require Constitution amendment, the House would work closely with the delegation to meet their demands of restructuring and true federalism.

    Speaking on why he supports restructuring, the speaker said it would fertigate Nigeria to be more productive but there must be consensus among leaders of all regions of the country on best ideas and formula to undertake the process in a way that will benefit all parties.

    He added that disagreements may emerge during the deliberation process but that is how progress can be made.

    He stated that, “Restructuring, for most of us, is something that we must undertake as a country and I am not saying this because I want to please you because our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, strongly made a case for restructuring. I am saying so because there is no enlightened person at this time, on the streets of Nigeria that will fault the idea of restructuring. None. Maybe it was because of the way it was presented and packaged that led to fear for certain sections of this country. Obviously, you should understand that.

    “But the truth is that, if you look at it, what was the real reason for the formation of Nigeria, for bringing together all these regions to form Nigeria? You begin to assess whether we have realised 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent or 50 percent of the purpose that there was this amalgamation that formed Nigeria. If the answer is that we are not close to our peers, we have not even realised 30 percent of why the regions were amalgamated, that shows that something is wrong. You do not need to go further to investigate whether something is wrong with Nigeria, you do not need to be told that something is wrong.

    Where are our peers, for instance, countries that are endowed with the same kind of resources that we have, both the natural and human resources that we have. Where are they and where are we? That shows that something is wrong, whether we like it or not.”

    Earlier, the delegation presented a position paper to Speaker Dogara where they stated, among other things, that they want legislative support to provide for restructuring that would produce federating units that will promote unity, and peace by creating a sense of belonging among all Nigerians.

    They also opposed colonies in the south-south, north central, south-east and middle belt regions that they represented at the meeting; rejected the current ongoing voters registration exercise for registration of under-aged voters and poor registration of voters in the southern and middle belt states, and called for an overhaul of the security apparatus of the country to reflect federal character.