By Oseloka H. Obaze<\/p>\n
Nigeria is at risk unless it finds the courage to restructure. A nation in
\ndire straits, Nigeria has a choice, to restructure by plan or by default.
\nA planned restructuring will be collaborative, systematic, and redesign
\nNigeria, yet keep it whole.\u00a0 A default restructuring, will happen,
\ncertainly not by choice, but definitely like an uncontrolled experiment
\nwith attendant risks and indefinite outcome. The challenge confronting
\nNigeria now, is that the long overdue restructuring will happen, when the
\ncost of not restructuring far outweighs the cost of restructuring.
\nNigeria\u2019s federalism remains so only in name.\u00a0 As such, the debate to
\nrestructure Nigeria or not is well beyond political rhetoric and ethnic
\npolemics. President Buhari in his campaign manifesto, promised to
\n\u201cInitiate action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to
\ndevolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to
\nentrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit.\u201d In all fairness, Buhari
\nnever used the word, \u201crestructure\u201d; but it was implied.\u00a0 As the debate on
\nrestructuring gathers steam, there\u2019s a corollary; the gnawing fear that
\nequates restructuring with the break up Nigeria. Such concern is unfounded
\nand the notion defeatist. Nigeria has been restructured several times,
\nwithout negative consequences. The present demand is to make the Nigerian
\nentity and its integral parts, more efficient, more acceptable, more
\nproductive, more functional and above all, more equitable.\u00a0 Nigeria
\narrived at the present juncture, first, because of entrenched distrust of
\nthe political leadership and second, because Nigerian leaders
\npathologically loath political and academic analysis pointing them to
\nvexatious national questions. Shamefully, Nigerian leaders only react to
\nviolent agitations; always belatedly and mostly, in very crass if not
\nheinous manner.<\/p>\n
Since the civil war, Nigeria has never been as polarized as it is now.
\nRestructuring Nigeria, is therefore, naturally compelling for reasons,
\nwhich may include the desire to tweak management, ownership and
\noperational or administrative modalities, with a view to achieving equity
\nand efficiency.\u00a0 Restructuring sometimes arise from crisis situations or
\nthe need to preempt political catastrophe. The latter is a core premise
\nfor Nigeria. Regardless of what opponents of restructuring think, Nigeria
\nmust restructure or risk self-destruction.\u00a0 What matters is whether
\nNigeria\u2019s leadership can seize the moment and save the nation. But what
\nmatters most, is not when, but how to restructure peaceably. President
\nBuhari\u2019s manifesto also recognized the need to \u201cBring permanent peace and
\nsolution to the insurgency issues in the North-East; the Niger Delta; and
\nother conflict prone states and areas such as Plateau, Benue, Bauchi,
\nBornu, Abia, Taraba, Yobe, and Kaduna in order to engender national unity
\nand social harmony.\u201d Along these delineations, a casual line matrix
\nconnecting all the flash points in Nigeria will reveal a nation steeped in
\ndeep crisis.<\/p>\n
The crux of the problem is that citizen alienation is rife nationwide; to
\nthe extent that every ethnic jigsaw component of Nigeria feels
\nsufficiently aggrieved, marginalized and therefore, seeks equity via
\nrestructuring. Paradoxically, before now, the call for restructuring was
\none-sided. Now, restructuring calls emanate tellingly from the east, west,
\nsouth and north of Nigeria.\u00a0 Eminent Nigerians canvassing for
\nrestructuring include, Ben Nwabueze, Atiku Abubakar, Balarabe Musa, Wole
\nSoyinka, Alani Akinrinade, Edwin Clark,\u00a0 Emeka Anyaoku, Ishola Williams,
\nTanko Yakassai, and pan-sectional groups like Ohaneze Ndiigbo, Afenifere,
\nMovement for National Reformation and The Patriots. An inescapable
\naddition is a slew of agitating and emergent armed groups, including Boko
\nHaram, Niger Delta Avengers, Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, MOSSOB and
\nMEND.<\/p>\n
Northern stakeholders seem averse to restructuring. However, Adamu Ciroma
\nin saying \u201cI don\u2019t agree that the North is afraid of restructuring,\u201d
\ntampered that disposition.\u00a0 Gen. Yakubu Gowon supports restructuring,
\nalbeit within established parameters; \u201cWe can restructure within one
\nNigeria context.\u201d Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State does not favour
\nrestructuring as \u201cpanacea to the nation\u2019s current socio-economic woes\u201d;
\nrather he prefers restructuring of \u201cthe national mindsets\u201d aimed at
\nreturning Nigeria to \u201cthe path of progress.\u201d<\/p>\n
The motives behind restructuring vary, yet it\u2019s well understood that
\nrestructuring can\u2019t be orchestrated on a sectional, basis, except by force
\nof violence.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s that singular realization and the need to avoid
\nviolence that propels the clamour for a formalized restructuring of
\nNigeria. The clamour is underpinned by Machiavelli\u2019s mantra of \u201cthe
\npowerful influence of necessity\u201d. Ironically, entrenched suspicion is
\nstill rampant that any call for restructuring is insidious and masked with
\nulterior motives; primarily to Balkanize Nigeria.\u00a0 In truth, the
\nthirty-six state structure does that support that theory. Moreover,
\ninvestments by a huge cluster of wealthy Igbo elite outside their
\nsoutheast home base have made most Igbo elite embarrassingly taciturn on
\nrestructuring issues \u2013 read fear of economic reprisals. Yet such reticence
\nis misconstrued, as the Igbo desire restructuring badly, so their
\nenterprises can continue to flourish in a united Nigeria.
\nIf there is a common denominator for restructuring, it\u2019s that broad
\nsegments of the nation feel justifiably marginalized. The south-south
\nclaim continued deprivation and blight from oil pollution, despite being
\nthe hub for the nation\u2019s oil wealth. The south-east legitimately gripes
\nthat nothing will change the history of the Igbo being divested of some of
\ntheir properties and wealth after the war and being handed only twenty
\npounds each; and that fifty-six years after independence, the Nigerian
\npresidency continue to elude the Igbo.\u00a0 The North has valid gripes too.
\nMost of Nigeria\u2019s insolvent states are in the North; the broadest swathes
\nof underdeveloped Nigeria are in the North and the largest numbers of
\nuneducated and unskilled youths are from the north. Because northern
\nstates are not oil producing, they also lose out on preferential
\nderivation from oil. These differing claims tally with Atiku Abubakar\u2019s
\nrecent summation: \u201cOur current structure and the practices it has
\nencouraged have been a major impediment to the economic and political
\ndevelopment of our country. In short, it has not served Nigeria well, and
\nat the risk of reproach it has not served my part of the country, the
\nNorth well.\u201d\u00a0 However, the natural argument that follows is that the
\nNorth\u2019s problems are self-inflicted; if Nigeria\u2019s misrule has negatively
\nimpacted the north,\u00a0 the blame lies with Northerners who have
\npredominantly ruled Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Certain realities must be borne in mind. Post-independent Nigeria had four
\nregions, which without the benefit of oil created wealth, were
\nself-sufficient in food and production of various cash crops and other
\nexportable commodities.\u00a0 The regions contributed effectively to
\nbankrolling the central government. Today, the reverse is the case. While
\nacross board, segments of Nigeria\u2019s population continue to express
\n\u201cfeelings of marginalization, of being short-changed, dominated,
\noppressed, threatened, or even targeted for elimination,\u201d what is most
\nbothersome to them is being subjected to involuntary \u201cdependency\u201d arising
\nfrom overwhelmingly centralized powers. So long as Nigerians feel a sense
\nof dissatisfaction with the state of the commonweal; so long as Nigerians
\nfeel dependent, vulnerable, somewhat disenfranchised, and are tugged by
\nemotions- betrayal, disappointment, frustrations; the clamour for
\nrestructuring will persist.<\/p>\n
Because Nigeria is so politically polarized, rallying the nation to a
\nconsensus on restructuring is fraught with\u00a0 difficulties.\u00a0 Yet two points
\nmust be made emphatically. Nigerians must accept that the phobia against
\nrestructuring is misplaced, more so when linked with a breakup.\u00a0 Secondly,
\nrestructuring need not be a one-off or a this-day event. Hence
\nrestructuring must be handled the same way one seeks equity; everyone is
\nobligated to come to the table with clean hands; meaning tolerance,
\nopenness and accommodation. Nigeria\u2019s restructuring jives with Buhari\u2019s
\n\u2018change\u201d agenda and campaign promises. The process calls for frank
\ndialogue; the dialogue proper, though unshapen, commenced with the 2014
\nNational Confab, imperfect as it was. Meaningful strides are possible
\nstarting with the implementation of select recommendations of the 2014
\nConfab Report and setting modalities for tackling the longer-term agenda.
\nThis approach offers several dividends; it will buy the nation time,
\nassuage frayed nerves and convey a sense of inclusivity to Nigerians.<\/p>\n
Finally, President Buhari having boxed himself into a corner, by
\nconsigning the 2014 Confab report to the archives, without the benefit of
\nreading it, must correct that policy and governance flub. He needs to
\nrescind that decision and embrace the Confab report in principle, thus
\ntacitly supporting the restructuring agenda, while fulfilling his campaign
\npromise. Thereafter, he can offer his template for restructuring Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n
Obaze, is MD\/CEO of Selonnes Consult Ltd.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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