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Tag: Restructuring

  • Southern leaders chide Sultan for opposing calls for restructuring

    Some traditional rulers in the southern part of Nigeria, have disagreed with the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar on restructuring, saying that the view is against the wish of the people.

    The Sultan had urged Nigerians­ to focus on the devolution of the economy, rather than the restructuring of Nigeria.

    In a report published on TheNewsGuru.com, the Sultan, while speaking at the Niger State Investment Summit, which held recently in Minna called on Nigerians to focus on the devolution of the economy rather than the restructuring the country.

    Meanwhile, in an interview session with Punch, some traditional rulers in the southern part of Nigeria, have disagreed with the Sultan for opposing calls for restructuring in Nigeria.

    Their reactions:

    Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji said, “If the people of Nigeria want the country to be restructured, as traditional leaders, we are not in a position to oppose it. We are closer to the people, so we must lead by example. It is important to find a way of addressing the yearning of our people.

    “Without the people, there cannot be a leader. We can see clearly what is wrong with the present system. The people and all the major political parties are calling for restructuring. We should allow people to develop at their own pace. It is the only way out of a potential crisis. That is how we can address all the agitations across the country. We support the restructuring of the nation.”

    Obong Etim Abia from Eket, Akwa Ibom State said, “I think the general opinion is that, as Nigerians, we all need to come together, sit down and discuss how we want this country to be governed. This is the only country in the world that people have to go to the centre and share money. Things cannot continue like that — that is why some people insist on resource control.

    “To say the country should not be restructured and that we should leave it to what the military decided to make it — with the military all from one side of the country — is unfair and unrealistic. We must agree on resource control in which every state will control its own resources and give a percentage, even if it is 50 per cent, to the centre.”

    The paramount ruler of Aburemi Kingdom, Ogbia, Bayelsa State, King Collins Daniel said, “The man (Sultan) who is talking about building dams across the nation is talking in respect of the Sahel region. You know this country is divided into different geographical regions. You have the savannah; you have the Sahel, the forest and the swamps. You will find out that most of the Niger Delta states are in the swamps, lowlands; the South-East and the South-West are in the forest region. The Middle Belt is in the savannah and the North-East and the North-West are in the Sahel region. Now the problem of someone that is in the North-East or North-West cannot be the same problem of the people in the swamp region; it cannot be the same with the people in the forest region.

    “So, what is the significance of dams? What will dams do? Dams are for those who don’t get enough rains. The northerners don’t have enough water, so they need dams. So, if that is the solution to their problem, that cannot be the solution of Nigeria. There is always a unifying force for people to say, ‘Let there be restructuring.’ People should be able to negotiate on this structure that we have, so that a section of the country does not have undue advantage over other sections of the country,” the Ogbia monarch said.

    For the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, a paramount ruler in Ondo State, “I must say that we cannot shy away from the restructuring of this country. Remember that we are talking about an equitable society where we will all see ourselves as one and not a lopsided situation as we currently have. We need to restructure the political frame of the country; the fiscal federalism must equally be addressed.

    “We must, therefore, look for a way to discuss these challenges and the best way to overcome them is by the restructuring of Nigeria.”

    Similarly, an Ekiti monarch, the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adebayo Adewole said, “I believe strongly in restructuring. There is no need for a region to be dragging another region behind. Each state should develop at its pace and control its resources.

    “This is why the Niger Delta people are agitating; they feel they are the ones generating the wealth of the nation and their region is not developed. If Nigeria is restructured, the economic and security challenges will go away.”

    Another traditional ruler from Imo State, Obi of Ihim, Eze Oliver Ohanwe said, “I do not agree with the Sultan of Sokoto with his take on restructuring. We need to restructure the country. Agitations for the restructuring of the country did not start today. They started during the amalgamation in 1914 — most Nigerians support restructuring of the country.”

    In the same vein, the Okirika-Ama, Umuokirika in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Eze Dom Okoro (Eze Okirika I) said he was not surprised that the Sultan did not throw his weight being the restructuring that many Nigerians wanted.

    He said, “I say this because they (northerners) are beneficiaries of the current distortions in the country. By that campaign from the Sultan, they want the existing imbalance and cheating in the country to continue.”

    His view was shared by another paramount ruler, Dr. Ikechukwu Okoligwe, (Okukoro II) of Awo-Idemili in Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State.

    The monarch said, “Many Nigerians are calling for restructuring for us to have equity and fairness in the country. If we fail to do that, we would be deceiving ourselves.”

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, however, agreed with the Sultan’s call for economic restructuring.

    “I sat with the Sultan and he explained what he meant to me. He explained everything about the devolution of the economy to me and I agreed with him. If restructuring is about breaking up the country, I am against it. But if it is about how to improve the welfare of the people, I will support it,” he stated.

    Oba Akanbi added that there should be a clear understanding of the restructuring being called for.

    “So many people do not understand what the restructuring is about. Many think it is about the break-up of the country and the people must be educated that the restructuring they are clamouring for is not to break up the country.

    “What I would advocate is industrialisation. This government must do everything to ensure that Nigeria is industrialised. The kind of agriculture we are practising in Nigeria is wasting our produce. Farmers lose 75 per cent of their produce after harvest,” he said.

  • We need good governance to end demands for restructuring – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State has declared that nobody will clamour for the restructuring of the country once the Federal Government adopts a just governance model.

    He said that a governance model that emphasizes the equitable distribution of resources and projects will promote unity and the rapid growth of the country.

    Addressing the National Executive Council of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) on Tuesday at the Government House Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that unless the Federal Government takes the right steps to address developmental challenges, agitations for restructuring will intensify.

    He said: “Nobody will clamour for restructuring once things are put in the right perspective. Unless the right thing is done, the clamour for restructuring will never stop”.

    The governor explained that delivering credible elections at all levels will also help reduce the level of agitations in the country.

    According to him, credible elections will keep leaders on their toes and make them work for the people, instead of the present situation where leaders fail to work but rely on INEC and Police to help them rig elections.

    He said: “If rigging is eliminated from the system and the will of the people matter, leaders will sit up and work for their communities. However, INEC and police form obstacles to credible elections in Nigeria”.

    Governor Wike pointed out that all Nigerians must work together to address the challenges in the country.

    He advocated for the enthronement of merit in the country. The governor said that the relegation of merit in critical areas have led to failure and under-development.

    The Science Teachers are in Rivers State for their 60th Anniversary.

  • Sultan of Sokoto rejects restructuring

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, yesterday called on Nigerians to focus on the devolution of the economy rather than the restructuring the country.

    Abubakar made the call at the Niger State Investment Submit in Minna.

    The summit, which attracted economic experts, industrialists and manufacturers as well as some state governors from different parts of the country, was organised to attract investors in various fields to boost the economy of the state.

    The Sultan said the nation was blessed with human and mineral resources needed to achieve greatness.

    He advised that the Shiroro Dam in Niger, Goronyo Dam in Sokoto and others across the country should be used to start all-year farming.

    He argued that the proper utilisation of the nation’s dams would enable farmers to produce food crops for both local consumption and export.

    “Rather than the clamour for the restructuring of the country, the Federal Government should be called upon to release dams across the country to state governments for massive participation of Nigerians in all-year farming seasons.

    “We have the ability and technical knowledge to feed the continent with what we can produce, with the required political commitment, through the provision of modern farming implements for our teeming farmers.”

    He also urged the Federal Government to ensure the early completion of the Minna-Suleja and Ilorin-Kaduna federal roads.

    The Sultan said the poor condition of the roads was affecting economic development of the state and the northern region.

    He urged the state government to ensure proper analysis and smooth implementation of programmes put forward by individuals and corporate organisations at the summit.

    He said Nigeria was one of the countries in the world with various mineral resources needed to better the lots of the people.

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, for providing purposeful leadership for the political growth of the country.

    He said state governors would continue to support the Federal Government to ensure the peace, progress and political growth of the country.

    “We will continue to initiate people-oriented policies and programmes that will ensure rapid growth.

    “Above all, various forms of security measures will be put in place to guarantee the safety of our farmers to ensure the production of assorted food crops for local consumption and export,’’ he said.

  • Restructuring: Awolowo “may not succeed as councillor‎” in present day Nigeria – Don

    A Nigerian professor, Akin Onigbinde on Thursday stated the need for the country to embrace restructuring as hampered by some leaders as the only way to ensure economic sustainability.

    Onigbinde noted that the country may never produce influence leaders of thought in likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo if nothing is done to position the present system of governance well.

    “If Awolowo were to run under the present government, he may not succeed as councillor,” he added.

    Onigbinde made this submission on Thursday in Lagos at a conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP.

    The programme, themed “Sustaining Growth Through Diversification of the Economy”, was held in Ikeja.

    The don noted that the system through which government affairs are run in Nigeria today impedes sustainable development.

    He called on Nigerians to support the call for restructuring of the governance system, saying “until we sort out restructuring, we can’t have an economy.”

    While recalling that the late premier of the western region, Obafemi Awolowo, ran one of the most development-oriented governments in the nation’s history, he explained that Mr. Awolowo’s success was enabled by the system of government put in place at the time.

    “Until we loosen the centre, nothing can work,” he said, adding that “Until we sort out restructuring, we can’t have an economy.”

    Onigbinde noted further that, “Many people refer to Awolowo as the best president Nigeria never had… Ojukwu said so.

    “Awolowo was able to lend money to the federal government under the cocoa marketing board. The system allowed him.

    “If Awolowo were to run under the present government, he may not succeed as councillor.”

  • Restructuring: North will make its position clear soon – Almakura

    Governor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State says a committee of Northern governors and traditional rulers will soon come up with a stand on restructuring in the region’s and country’s best interests.

    Almakura stated that the committee is led by the Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.

    The Nasarawa State governor made this known on Saturday at the official installation and presentation of first class staff of office to the new Emir of Keffi, Shehu Yamusa III, in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.

    “I wish to say that in spite of the numerous provocative statements credited to some unpatriotic elements cloaked in the guise of restructuring, I want to assure everyone that a joint committee headed by Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Governor of Sokoto State, comprising Northern governors and traditional rulers would soon come up with a common position that will be in the best interest of not only the North, but Nigeria as a whole.

    “Since our coming on board, we have remained consistent in our determination to ensure the inclusion of traditional rulers in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to enable our Traditional Institution to continue to play its pivotal role as custodian of our traditions, customs, and heritage.

    “We have since incorporated the traditional institution into the machinery of governance in Nasarawa State by engaging them in the affairs of government at all levels in the state.

    “This has availed government of their wealth of experience and doggedness in our governance of Nasarawa State and, indeed, the conscience of the society.

    “It is our conviction that when this is done, the traditional rulers will more proactively complement government efforts toward the development of our society,” he said.

    Almakura also noted that the state government has embarked on robust infrastructural development in Keffi and environs.

    “We have networked the city with asphalted roads and completed the abandoned Keffi Modern Market which will open commercial activities for the people.

    “We have also awarded contract of about N400 million for the construction of a bridge over Antau River to link the municipality of Keffi with other communities,” he added.

    He urged the monarch to abide by the oath of office and to discharge his duties without fear or favour to promote peace and socio-economic development of the country.

    The governor expressed gratitude to the governors, traditional rulers, and politicians within and outside the state, who attended the ceremony.

    He called for sustained cordial relationship with one another in the interest of peace and tranquillity in the country.

    Responding, the new emir expressed appreciation to Mr. Almakura for the honour done him and gave an assurance that the Keffi emirate council would be loyal to the state government by providing all the support expected of it.

    He pledged to initiate projects and programmes that would impact the lives of the people of the state and Nigerians at large.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that governors Aminu Tambuwal, Simon Lalong, and Samuel Ortom were at the event.

    The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111 were among other traditional rulers and dignitaries that graced the occasion.

    The former Emir of Keffi, Muhammadu Yamusa II, who was enthroned on May 11, 1978, died on December 4, 2015 at the aged of 70 years.

    The development led to the appointment of his son, Shehu Yamusa III, as the new emir on December 14, 2015.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Urhobos join calls for restructuring, seek reversal to 1960 constitution

    The Urhobo Nation, one of the major oil and gas producing ethnic groups in Nigeria has joined its voice with several other groups in virtually all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria calling for a restructuring of the country.

    Lamenting how the Urhobos have being shortchanged on all fronts in the present Nigerian project, the President of the Urhobo Progressive Union, UPU, Olorogun Moses Taiga, in a press statement he personally signed on behalf of his people, seeks a reversal to the 1960 Constitution where each region controlled its resources and contributed to the centre.

    Taiga said the whole idea and practice of states of the Federation converging in Abuja – or of LGAs, assembling at state capitals – every month to receive allocations, is appalling, stressing that such wretched dependency on central allocations kills industry and initiative.

    The statement reads, “For some time now, there have been discordant voices on the way forward for Nigeria. In these circumstances, it is important that major stake holders in the Nigerian nation-building project should speak out in ways that will calm the current inflamed political situation while addressing Nigeria’s long-standing problems that do give rise to these excesses.

    It is in that patriotic context that the UPU – representing the Urhobo people, the largest ethnic nationality in the Western Niger Delta and the fourth largest in the Nigerian Federation – wishes to state as follows:

    “The Urhobo Nation believes in one Nigeria. We believe in a Nigeria built on fairness, equity and justice principles which incidentally have guided the Urhobos in their interactions long before the entity called Nigeria can be.

    “We believe in true federalism. In line with the 16-point resolution of the Southern Leaders Forum, The UPU wants a reversal to the 1960 Constitution where each region controlled its resources and contributed to the centre. The whole idea and practice of states of the Federation converging in Abuja – or of LGAs assembling at state capitals – every month to receive allocations, without which they cannot operate, is appalling. Such wretched dependency on central allocations kills industry and initiative.

    “Nigeria is also an amalgamation of ethnic nationalities where the Constitution, however, guarantees all citizens freedom of association. We have grown to be interdependent over the years as Nigerians move outside their lands of birth to other communities within the country to seek a gainful livelihood. We implore those who have resettled in other communities. Whether they are Igbo merchants or Fulani cattle herdsmen or any other class of workers, it is important that violence is eschewed in their relations with their host communities. The UPU, however, deplores the quit notice given by some groups for citizens of other ethnic groups to vacate their territory. The Constitution gives no ethnic group such powers.

    “Ultimately, peace and inter-ethnic harmony will only flow from good governance, especially at the federal level, in Nigeria. The practice of crowding out certain ethnic nationalities from ministerial appointments and other political official office violates the doctrine of ”federal character” that is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. it is one of the factors fueling ethnic and secessionist agitations, our union should be based on merit, fairness, justice and equity.

    “Urhobo progress Union urges political leaders to summon the courage to restructure this country in a manner that will strengthen the state of the federation to raise revenues, including taxes, and to independently manage their own resources. The ongoing amendment of the constitution is not far reaching enough to give us the true federalism we yearn for. Urhobo sons and daughter- and indeed all federal lawmakers- must do a lot more to match the expectations of their people who put them there.

    “Apart from true federalism, which will bring more development to the federating units, improve the lives of our people and consequently reduce crime, the UPU believes our internal security apparatus, especially the police, should be reorganised to bring it closer to the grassroots. Criminal elements live in the midst of people and it is easier for the locals to track them down. Community policing should evolve to a major institution to help combat crime effectively, while we work out modalities to set up police.

    “Urhobo progress union makes this proposal in the full hope that a revamped federal system, which produces a new dynamism of economic growth, will have a positive outcome of providing ample room for Nigerian ethnic nationalities to interact without conflicts that have led to current crisis. The UPU will continue to work closely with the southern Leaders Forum to forge a united front.”

  • Northern Governors set up 12-man committee on restructuring

    The Northern States Governors Forum has set up a 12-man committee to come up with the region’s position on Nigeria’s restructuring.

    A communiqué issued after a two-day meeting of the governors in Kaduna on Friday said Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State would serve as Chairman of the committee with the Deputy Governor of Plateau as Secretary.

    Other members of the committee include the governors of Nasarawa, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and Kaduna States.

    It also has as members, the Emirs of Kano, Zazzau and Gummi, as well as Estu Nupe and Gbong Gwom Jos.

    The committee was mandated to collate opinions from across the region and come up with acceptable, tenable and sustainable position for the North in consonance with provisions of the Constitution.

    The forum re-affirmed its commitment to national unity and peaceful co-existence, assuring that all Nigerians have the right to reside and own property in any part of the region.

    The governors further reassured all Nigerians living in the North of adequate protection of their lives and property.

    The forum also called on Southern leaders to emulate the gesture.

    The northern governors urged the Federal Government to strengthen the capability of the Police and other security agencies to perform their duties more effectively.

    They noted that the lingering crisis between farmers and herdsmen was as a result of lack of adequate security enforcement.

    “The situation is worsened by the infiltration of criminal elements from outside the regions that pose as Fulani herdsmen and deliberately engage farmers in deadly conflict and crimes.’’

    The forum emphasised the need to create more grazing reserves with adequate structure to address the needs of herdsmen and their animals before the enactment of any legislation on open grazing.

  • Just in: Senate rejects devolution, approves autonomy for LG’s

    The several calls for restructuring hit a brick wall on Wednesday as the Nigerian Senate voted to reject a proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution to devolve more powers to the states.

    Using electronic voting, 48 of 95 Senators present voted against the proposal, which had been challenged on Tuesday by Adamu Aliero, who argued it should not stand without reviewing the revenue sharing formula to give more money to states.

    The Senate has voted in support of the Local Government Autonomy and areas up for amendment in the 1999 Constitution.

    The Senate also voted against devolution of powers, while the Federal lawmakers have voted in favour of immunity in respect of words spoken or written at plenary sessions.

    The lawmakers are also voting in favour of the amendments that the President must nominate Ministers within 30 days and attach the portfolios of the Ministers to the Senate when sending for confirmation.

    The Senate voted the separation of the office of the Minister and Commissioner of Justice from the Attorney General of the Federation and of states to create an independent office of the Attorney General of the Federation insulated from partisanship.

    The clause makes it obligatory for the President to deliver a State of the Nation address in a joint session of the National Assembly.

  • A letter to Acting President: Nigerian restructuring can start with you sir – Etakibuebu

    By Godwin Etakibuebu

    My dear Professor Yemi Osinbajo, it is with fervent respect and enthusiastic joy addressing this letter to you Sir, on a topic that has been over-flogged in recent times, which is the restructuring of Nigeria. The topic, as framed here, is slightly different from how it has been used.

    It says here that “Nigerian restructuring can start with you”. It means that there are few things you can do, during this period while you are acting the presidency, which could bring many benefits to Nigerians.

    The beauty of what is being suggested hereunder is that you would not send any bill to the National Assembly to get it done. Nor will it be compelling on you to traverse the six geo-political zones to pull the feat. You don’t even need to consult any of the Thirty Six Governors of the federation to sail through this turbulent water of restructuring. Your own landlord Sir; the Minister of the Federal Capital, need not to know when you will throw the winning dice. All that shall be required of you is just signing of Executive Orders, constitutionally and it is done. So, what are these Executive Orders you need to be signing?

    Oh, lest l forget Sir, permit me to explain why l am deploying an “open letter system” in reaching you. Yes, it could have been better off if l were to hand-deliver this Memo to you personally – one-on-one but security around you would not give life to such endeavour. In addition Sir, there is a very thin line between the camp of the enemies and that of friends in today’s Nigeria that one has to be very careful when steps of acclimatisation to those in Authority is been taken. More so when it is very difficult for the uninitiated to understand what makes the difference between conventional and unconventional approach in the present climes of our dear country.

    For the reasons given so far, consider the approach of open letter as my most humble way of reaching you, with enough useful information for the benefit of our dear country without breaching any security protocol. It is all about the zeal for our fatherland. Discard the messenger [open letter] while concentrating on the message [the contents of this letter] please, or else you will miss the blessings of this exercise and that would remain a monumental catastrophe for Nigeria. We can now go ahead mentioning the Executive Orders you need to sign for the restructuring of Nigeria to commence.

    The first thing to do Sir, is for you signing an Executive Order banning the usage of generating plants as source of electricity supply, in all Federal Government’s institutions throughout the Country, except hospitals. The starting point of implementing this order [that is if you will have enough courage to sign it] is the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja; where you operate from.

    This will be a very pragmatic step towards moving Nigeria to one direction only. It is either all Nigerians of One Hundred and Eighty Million people [including those dealers parading themselves as leaders] live in total darkness for ever or remain there for such a time until reasons about revolution of what to do takes better side of the so-called “dealers called leaders”.

    Signing such Executive Order can never pitch you in battle against any contending entity in Nigeria. The National Assembly cannot say that you lack constitutional power to do so as long as the Order is not enforceable on that organ of government. The States, even in their strictest display of conspiratorial prosecution of wicked intents, cannot stop you. I am sure that the judiciary would never have any constitutional law to interpret [more so when there shall be no one approaching the courts for interpretation], saying that what the President [sorry, Acting President] did was wrong.

    The Executive Order on this shall strictly cover your areas of exclusiveness, not more or less than the few Executive Orders; such as the one bordering on the ease of doing business in Nigeria, you have signed within the last few days. There are more Executive Orders awaiting your signatures Sir, but we have to convince you on the justification and gains of this action first, that is if you will be having enough courage and guts to do it, before moving to others.

    Nigerians have been forced to adopt a habit of lifestyle of imbeciles on this electricity matter. There is the story of this young chap travelling to London for the very first time with his mother. Of course, the plane took off with light switched-off as per the normal aviation regulation but this young man thought it was NEPA [as it was called then and l am afraid if the name has really changed because the functions and failures remain] that took the light. So, when the pilot restored light to the cabin, the same chap shouted “up NEPA!” Is that not how much docile Nigerians have become on the issue of electricity? Yet there are Billions of America Dollars voted for electricity annually without two hours regulated supply of electricity for the citizenry.

    Yet, the homes and offices of these corrupt leaders, who have seriously and dangerously looted our common wealth silly [and houses of their mistresses; houses built or hired with our money] are supplied with electricity 24/7, with Nigerians money, through provision of generating plants. Only just about 2% enjoy this looted privilege to the detriment of 98%. Something must be done to bring justice and equity to the land and this is what restructuring is all about.

    So, when you sign such Executive Order Sir, you would have taken all Nigerians to the point of “levelism” [my own coinage] or back to the “jungle” where survival would wear a different definition. Any attempt of surviving from that “depth” would be a life in collectivism which will be tantamount to all coming to the wisdom of “together we stand”. China came via this route. There shall be more for your attention next week Sir.
    Godwin Etakibuebu, a veteran journalist, wrote from Lagos.

  • Disco dancing in Senate and lurking danger – Owei Lakemfa

    By Owei Lakemfa
    Senator Demola Adeleke, the newest Senator in the hallow chambers seems to have been dancing non-stop since his victory at the polls . Elected to finish the term of his late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, I have watched various videos of the new Senator dancing and ‘changing his footsteps’ especially when dancing in his home town, Ede.
    Given his bulky frame, his gyrations and phallic gestures, he can win an international dance competition. He also displayed a lot of charisma shelling out dollars to a musician in an obviously earlier dance abroad. The lyrics of the various songs suggests he is conquering his enemies and was born, not to work, but to spend money.
    This may be true as he might have been born into wealth. His father, Comrade R.A. Adeleke, a trade unionist of the defunct Nigeria Workers Council (NWC), was a Senator of the Second Republic.
    His electoral campaigns and message seem to have been drowned in the songs and crushed in his dance steps. To me, there is nothing wrong with a Distinguished Senator with songs in the head and nimble feet on the ground.
    He would be a great complement to my friend, Senator Dino Melaye whose remix of the traditional Yoruba song ‘Aje kun ya” should win him the African Song of the Year. But we have had enough entertainment; the drama has to come to an end and the focus shifted to serious legislative duties.
    About the same time, my attention was drawn to another song, ‘Egbema My Home’ by Barrister Smooth in which he lamented the neglect of an ancient kingdom with its towns.
    His video of the oil-rich kingdom showed flooded towns with thatch roofs and the people living the same way their ancestors lived centuries ago. He sang that the people have no clean drinking water, no roads, no hospitals, no schools, no electricity and certainly, no university. He claimed that the Kingdom has been so abandoned that it has not produced a Local Government Chairman, State House of Assembly Member, Member of the House of Representatives, a Senator, and definitely, no Governor.
    For some, this is why they are insisting on the restructuring of the country; that Derivation should be increased. Some even call for ‘Resource Control’ I have no problem with these except I know that increased derivation will not necessarily lead to development or the transformation of areas like Egbema. Restructuring will not take the country out of the disgraceful category of the three countries in the world; Pakistan, Nigeria, and Afghanistan which still have polio cases. How can war torn Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya be polio-free and we still have polio cases?
    Restructuring will not necessarily address the waste of $5 billion annually on generators and will not solve the chronic housing shortage in the country. It is unlikely to change the tragic reality that 65 percent of the 74,280 public Primary and Junior Secondary schools in the country, lack electricity. Apart from the hot humidity in the classrooms, how will restructuring give the children technology-based education especially when their homes also lack regular power supply?
    The reason for my position is based on the fact that almost all those calling for restructuring, advocate it primarily as a form. This includes the creation of an additional state in the East to bring it at par with the five other political Regions except the North West. Some advocate equal number of states and local governments for all the six political Regions.
    Yet others talk primarily about superficial constitutional amendments. They completely neglect or reject the content of restructuring. Yet for restructuring to be meaningful, it has to address both form and content. It has to address issues of poverty, inequality, mass unemployment, the privatization of collective wealth and the unfair distribution of resources between the privileged few and the majority in want.
    Like Barrister Smooth emphasized, development cannot come by individual wealth such as one man owning an oil bloc; but by collective wealth like the state owning oil blocs. Restructuring should mean making Chapter Two of the constitution justiciable. This amongst other things, mean that all Nigerian children will have a right to education.
    Restructuring should be vertical and horizontal; of the overfed and the hungry; the strong and the weak. It should be such that development would be for both the governor and the governed; the Minister and those they minister upon. Restructuring should resolve the contradiction of deepening poverty in a country so richly blessed.
    Generally if Nigerians are conscious, they will ask; what does restructure mean? Will it put food on the table, shirt on our backs, roof over the head, notebooks in classrooms and analgesics in the clinics? Make no mistake; I do not reject the idea or need to restructure the country, but it must be one that addresses basic needs and the issue of development which is moving the people to sustainable higher level of living by redistributing wealth in favour of the majority.
    The great 19th Century African-American abolitionist, Harriet Tubman aka ‘A Woman called Moses’ was quoted to have lamented: “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
    In similar vein, if the Nigerian masses were to be more reflective, they will ask why those who strongly advocate separateness would for five years now, reject a Bishop of the same ethnic group on the basis of dialectical variation. If only the oppressed and dispossessed are conscious that they are oppressed and dispossessed, they would not join the chant for separation, the noise of expulsion nor the army of ethnic jingoists and religious perverts. Rather, they will unite to change their circumstances.