A miscroscopic view of restructuring
The term restructuring has become a recurring decimal in our political space. Major stakeholders - political office holders, clerics and elder statesmen in the country have been championing the course for restructuring of the country. Notable among them is the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Behind these calls and agitations lies the confusion about the true meaning of restructuring. The so called proponents of restructuring have failed to tell the nation the meaning of restructuring from their own perspective. What do they actually mean when they say Nigeria must be restructured?
According to BBC dictionary, restructuring is defined as a change in the way things are organised, while other dictionaries define it as an alteration or reorganisation of a structure. Some have defined restructuring as true federalism while some, especially the governors, demand resource control by states as part of restructuring. They also want to have a state controlled police.
I totally support true federalism. There should be equitable distribution of resources across different sections of the country so there can be a harmonious relationship among the regions and federating states. I also suggest that meritocracy should be made to override mediocrity. Nigerians must get employment into the federal civil service purely on merit irrespective of religion or ethnic group. Through this process, productivity is enhanced.
Governors want states to develop, harness and mine their own resources and pay royalties to the federal government. They argue that this process will make states to develop at their own pace hence infrastructure and social amenities would be adequately provided for the people. We have not forgotten in a hurry how south south governors agitated and got the FG to pay them 13 per cent oil derivation every month. How have these funds been put to judicious use? It has been the same old story of wastage. The Niger Delta has never been better off since the implementation of that. Most governors do not pay salaries. They deploy state funds in fighting political opponents. With the same people in charge and armed with sufficient funds, the story will still be the same.
There have been several incidences of state governors, including those in opposition parties, using the police to intimidate and harass political opponents. The governors have also pocketed the houses of assembly and the state’s judiciary. They have bastardised governance at the local council level by refusing to grant them financial autonomy. The electoral commission in states are just acting the scripts of the governors. He who wants equity must come with clean hands. They must start restructuring from their states. Trusting governors with excessive powers may turn them into demi-gods and dictators.
We must not make this mistake as a nation. The moment we start negotiating our existence as a nation is the moment the fabrics that hold us together will start tearing apart. The unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.
Nwokedi Chiemezuo. (mezuoo04@gmail. com)