Who Is Afraid of Restructuring Nigeria?
The country requires constant dialogue and constructive engagement to remain together as a nation, writes Gozie Irogboli
Nigeria as a country is an amalgam of many nations crudely strung together for the administrative convenience of the imperialist Britain in 1914 without the consent of the disparate groups that make up the country. The British, too, subtly sowed the seed of discord by their divide and rule tactics designed to make the country weak and perpetually dependent on them. Therefore, it will require constant peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement to remain together as a nation. A country like Nigeria that is a conglomeration of many nations with different histories, cultures and worldviews is a relationship among diverse people that should be nurtured constructively and like all relationships, one of the most essential tools to manage it is periodic reviews. Reviews are necessary for many reasons. First, it enables us to look at our resources, capabilities, competencies and device the right strategies for nation-building. It will enable us to define our basis for existing together, take a critical look at the past and make appropriate plans for the future in the light of the current realities. It will enable us identify our weaknesses, past mistakes and mitigate them. It will also present opportunity to learn and copy appropriately from other people. Reviews help us make correct internal analysis, identify the right things we are doing, sustain them and avoid the wrong things, the ultimate aim being for the greater good of the people: to maintain peace, unity and maximise social welfare. It is a veritable tool for stakeholder engagement that creates a sense of belonging for every group within the polity. That is why even in homogenous entities, constitutions and laws are reviewed to reflect current realities in order to strengthen the state apparatus.
A truly patriotic citizen of this should be concerned about the state of the nation as ugly things are happening in quick succession. It is symptomatic of the fact that all is not well with polity. There is discontent and palpable fear in the land. The South-east is feeling marginalised and angry. The South-south is feeling exploited and frustrated, the North is agitated, albeit unnecessarily. The South-west is watching and moderating, apparently, as the pendulum seems to be swinging in their favour. There is recrimination and mutual suspicion among the various ethnic groups. There is palpable tension and the polity is heated up with endless agitation and youth restiveness.
Evidently, the present political imbroglio is a pent up anger against a government that has betrayed the masses; that has abysmally failed to usher in positive social change; that has not kept its campaign promises. The masses are hungry, dispirited, disappointed and disillusioned. Our economy is in the doldrums, national unity is shattered, and insecurity and crime rate have assumed egregious dimensions.
More than ever before, the recklessness and obnoxious policies of this administration have dangerously exposed our fault lines and ethnic fissures so much so that it may not be wrong to say that Nigeria is on the brink of disintegration unless urgent step is taken to avert that.
The democratic gains we have made these past 16 years have been wiped out within a space of two years. The culture of impunity has been elevated to an egregious degree. The executive is reckless and tactless. Court orders are flouted with impunity. There is no harmonious relationship between the executive and the other arms as it appears the executive has declared war against the legislative and the judiciary. Elections are no longer free and fair, as they are either rigged or declared inconclusive. Fulani herdsmen to whom the president is patron have been lionised into a terror squad that is ravaging communities across the nation. The government is making a charade of the anti-corruption thing. All we hear is anti-corruption war that is targeted at perceived political enemies. Orphaned monies have been discovered in burial ground and sundry other bizarre places. Very soon, it is speculated that monies may be discovered in refuse dump sites, uncompleted buildings or worship centres. The opposition has been intimidated and browbeaten into submission. More investment is made into stifling criticism and free speech than in health, education and essential services. We have corrupt lopsided appointments, ethnic cleansing, as officers from the South, especially Christians, are being weeded out of security services. The Ministry of Information and its cyber hirelings have continued to insult the sensibility of the citizens with lies and inane propaganda.
Worse still, there is no clear-cut plan of action or programme from the government to tackle the myriads of problems it has accentuated. The government seems not to believe in the principles of constructive engagement and stakeholder engagement, as it appears the only language they understand is nuisance value.
Thus, all these have led to the strident call for restructuring in order to make the nation safe and habitable for all. The call for restructuring is, indeed, a patriotic one and it is heart-warming that many eminent citizens, like Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and many others, have lent their voices for restructuring.
On this note, the request by the Senate to review the report of the 2014 National Conference is not only encouraging but commendable. By this act, the Senate has actually demonstrated that they are on the side of change. Despite the various acts of distraction, intimidation and blackmail coming from different quarters, the NASS has continued to function effectively. I sincerely commend the leadership of the National Assembly.
The Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki have spoken on the need to maintain our national unity. I cannot agree more with them. They have done their bounden duty as those occupying the highest offices in the land. While I commend their sense of patriotism, I must also state unequivocally too that if we must continue to stay together, the basis of that must be properly negotiated and the right time is now. The unity of the country is negotiable. Nobody shall live like a slave in the country he calls his own at this time and age. We shall not have a country where law-abiding citizens are treated like slaves; where anarchists prance around with ethnic arrogance, and where mediocrity is preferred to merit. Yes, we cannot live in a system where hardworking people live in penury while drones, dunces and dunderheads enjoy the wealth of the nation. Nigerians cannot continue to live like hostages and aliens in the country they call their own. Mba nu!
It is said that there is strength in diversity but, unfortunately, our diversity has become our worst weakness. Our diversity has created an adverse socio-cultural factor that has hamstrung our development process and made it almost impossible for the right leadership to emerge.
Yes, the world is talking about multi-culturalism. The new world order is about multi-culturalism that is based on ethical ideals and principles of equity, fairness and mutual respect, not on primordial claims to racial superiority. Our national ethos should be based on the principles of equity and rule of law. Why must some people think that it is their right to lead while others must follow even when they have no moral or intellectual content to do so?
Why would the government arrest and release unconditionally suicide bombers while those on peaceful protest are mowed down by the minions of the state? Why would the government negotiate with those who have taken up arms against the state and not those making peaceful and lawful agitations? Why would the government prefer nuisance value to constructive civil advocacy? What moral right has a government to arrest and try its citizens for treason when the actions, pronouncements and body language of the key persons in the government now and in the past are heinous and treasonable?