Post COVID-19: Restructuring Nigeria has become a given

“Wanting to fly”,  Sam Omatseye, Chairman, The Nation’s Editorial Board,  recently described the reaction of the Rivers’ State governor – please do not confuse with that of the Disaster – in Chief of Kogi State – apologies Comfort Obi of The Source – to some armstwisting by federal authorities in regard  to the management of the covid- 19 pandemic as “an issue of federalism and the rage of a state governor against a perceived central bully”,  indicating, in unmistakable terms, the fact that  restructuring has become long  overdue in  Nigeria.

In the U. S, the narcissistic President Trump was recently cut to size when he  attempted to claim more than the constitution permitted with regards to  Federal cum states’ relationship.  Indeed, he actually quickly backed off once his attention was called to the constitution. That is how countries can prosper, not by dik    tats from the Feds.  If, therefore, states and other levels of government in the United States, from where we copied the Presidential system can own themselves, and have freedom of action, such  should not be anathema in Nigeria.

No honest Nigerian can claim ignorance of the fact that the North, the Northwest in particular, apparently because of the undue advantages it  enjoys  from the status quo,  stands out as  the greatest stumbling block to restructuring Nigeria.

These advantages include, but are not limited to  preferential appointments, in number  and strategic importance, and, of course, the  superfluous financial advantages it derives from  the totally inequitable creation of Local Government Areas.  A good example of the latter is the fact that while  the number of Lagos state Local Government Areas has remained constant at  20, Kano state, which used to have the same number, now has  44 LGA’s even after Jigawa state, with 27 Local Government Areas, was created from it – no thanks to North -dominated military regimes of yore.

The inequality in Nigeria is beyoñd belief. Take for instance  NNPC, in respect of which the  Pan Niger Development Forum (PANDEF) recently drew the  President’s attention  to some  seeming nepotistic appointments at the expense of the Niger- Delta whose ecosystem has suffered massive degradation, alongside the millenial suffering  its peoples have, and continue, to suffer.

It must be said, however, that the Niger – Delta suffers what should correctly be described as double jeopardy as its own political leaders shamelessly steal most of the funds appropriated to  meaningfully impact  the peoples’  lives.  For years now the East- West road which should have opened up the entire area and  grow its economy, has become a sinkhole; with their local political champions taking turn to loot the funds  meant for its completion. The present  trouble  in the NDDC, where some people are desperately fighting, even unto death,  to upend the forensic audit ordered by the President  into the commission’s activities as billions, if not trillions, are reported to have been stolen through spurious contracts, says it all.

When Afenifere  in 2014 midwifed the Jonathan confab, it was in the hope that the President, being a minority, would rise to the occasion,  and be man enough to be the Moses of  the  deprived peoples of the Niger Delta area. Unfortunately, he chickened out because he had his eyes on re- election and egregiously let his people down.

Posterity will surely judge him harshly.

To banish all fears about restructuring of Nigeria which the North wrongly equates to Nigeria’s  disintegration, permit me readers, to present.

Don't forget to drop you comment below...