North Holds Public Hearing On Restructuring

THecommittee set up by the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers Council to aggregate the views of Northerners on the restructuring debate will hold public hearings in the 19 states of the region, the committee’s chairman and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has said.

Speaking after the inaugural meeting of the committee in Kaduna, Tambuwal said members have agreed to hold extensive consultations with stakeholders and leaders of thought in member states with a view to coming up with acceptable position that will reflect the view of the entire North.

“We have reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring Nigeria remains a strong, united country. We have also decided to present the case of the North as a single entity desirous of a prosperous country.”

This is a right step in the right direction. It goes a long way to show that the so-called hegemonic North is now aligning with the reality of the time. It means that the debate and clarion call on restructuring of the country cannot be wished away again.

With the North’s planned move on restructuring, it is important for the Southern governors and leaders of the zones to also come together and articulate their positions on the issue. This is considering the fact that the major proponents of this idea are from the South. It is not enough to be individually mouthing the concept, without properly and collectively articulating how it should be carried out for equitable Nigeria.

Again, now that the North has seen the need for restructuring, what is next is how patriotic the task will be carried in the interest of Nigeria, irrespective of tribes or religions. It is hoped that the Apc-led government’s committee on restructuring being led by one of the Northern governors, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, will not only implement the collective and agreed report by all Nigerians on restructuring, but will not subdue or replace it with views of the presidency’s cabal or a few Northern leaders. Such will not augur well for a country that is in dire need of leadership direction and peaceful co-existence.