Recently, when a call was made for restructuring of the country by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, the nation was split among those for and against. This is natural and actually shows that we are in a democratic milieu.
The fact of division as to the propriety or otherwise of the call means that the call has its merits. Among those who echoed the same sentiment, some called for the implementation of some of the recommendations of the National Conference organized by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Yet, on the 2014 national conference, the argument was that it was not organized or held in good fate but for the purpose of furthering the 2015 political ambition of the former President.
One needs to say from the outset that this writer did not make much of the conference held by President Jonathan and his loyalists because truly, it was organized solely for the purpose of seeking political mileage and legitimacy for his ambition to remain President via the 2015 polls. Nigerians however said unmistakably during the elections that they have had enough of President Jonathan’s ineffective and wasteful rule!
Bearing in mind the huge cost of hosting the 2014 conference and the fact that along the line, the conference became a serious affair, acquiring a life of its own, not to continue to waste resources, at an opportune time, the nation could look at the recommendations of the conference and other similar conferences as it relates to the often-talked about issue of restructuring and adopt aspects of it that can move the nation forward. Before this adoption, a national committee of respectable and knowledgeable persons, answerable to the President and the National Assembly and appointed by a sitting President should look at these aspects and make recommendations on their implementation.
It should be noted that restructuring is akin to making changes and adjustments to see how Nigeria can arrive at a union of constituent parts, which not only works efficiently, but which encourages national economic prosperity and patriotism in the citizenry towards their country. The mess which President Buhari found on taking office in May, 2016 and his realization with the support of Nigerians that the nation cannot survive if it continued on the same part, are pointers to the natural place of restructuring in the life of any nation. Brexit for the British is part of it. The British after years in the European Union discovered that continued membership would not advance their interest of what they want their country to be and now they would start a painstaking programme of changing institutional practices and governance to reflect their national aspirations away from what obtained while they were part of the European Union.
It is interesting that recently, the Federal Government reached agreement with State governors on the condition of Federal Highways in the States. Though not totally conversant with details of the agreement, the Federal and the States have now agreed that States should take over the construction and maintenance of Federal roads in the states to be re- imbursed later by the central government for their expenses! These are all in line with restructuring or adjusting the status quo, in the face of prevailing realities.
Thus from the issue of PMB’s desire to change the economic course of the nation through fighting corruption and emphasis on agriculture and domestic production, and the new thinking pertaining to the construction and maintenance of federal roads in the states, one thing becomes clear, the status quo, the old ways of doing things may no longer be sufficient for things to run smoothly and for the nation to achieve its objectives.Therefore, adjustments and tinkering eventually helps to guide the nation or even a business organization to arrive at the preferred destination.
The way it is with the economy and with road infrastructure, it should be with the politics and government structure of the nation, notably the matter of the relationship that should exist between the Central government and the governments of the constituent parts of the Federation. Adopting restructuring or changes in one area, and neglecting it in the other will only create confusion and frustration and ensure that the set goals are not achieved. At the earliest possible time, we should look at the way we are and be true to ourselves whether with slight adjustment we can be better.
Therefore one thinks that we should reflect deeply on the message of the former Vice President who is a conscious and patriotic Nigerian who wants the best for the country as shown by his activities in various sectors of our economy. PMB may not be the one to carry out this restructuring, but as his party supports the idea in principle, he could show that he thinks of the future by setting up a credible national committee to look into this issue and how it can work. Later, another leader can start the implementation if the national consensus so demands.
Written by Mohammed Jibrin.
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