No matter what the Hon. Members of the Na­tional Assembly may want to think and do, they must listen to the voice of the majority of Nigerians who elected them into the exalted offices of the Senate and House of Representa­tives; they must do the right thing when the Godly time comes. The four out of six political Zones of Nigeria, namely, North Central, Southsouth, Southwest and South­east in relation to the Northwest and Northeast Zones can really unite in political agreement to per­suade the two core-northern Zones in order to break and solve the political jinx-problems broadly-facing Nigeria and stop the threat­ening Armageddon on the nation; menacingly hanging over the fate of Nigeria and her people. In fact the politically-imbued divide-and-rule tactics, particularly against the Southeast and Southwest Zones that usually disorganize the four Zones and pose one or two against others have been the root cause of disunity in Nigeria.

If the four Zones can politically-act together, Nigeria’s unity and progress will be ensured for nation­al-common good. But when one finds the Southwest aligns with the Northwest against the Southsouth or Southeast and vice versa to rule, there develop acrimony and lack of peace. In plain language, this unhealthy-usual alliance habitual­ly-entered into between the Hausa-Fulani and the Yoruba against the Igbo and the rest of the country or between the Igbo and the Hausa-Fulani against the Yoruba have been most unhealthy for national development, progress and growth. Except for some self-centred and sectional gains and interests, gen­erality of Nigerians are not gain­ing from this bizarre and confused political gerrymandering that has bedevilled the country since 1966 to this day; while the total scenario has been getting worse over the years. In 1966, the Aburi Accord which was agreed upon and signed by Nigerian leaders in Ghana was later rejected and dumped on ar­rival in Lagos; this precipitated massive pogroms and loss of over 3million lives and trillions of Naira in material property of both Bia­frans and Nigerians; horrors in the genocidal war that lasted for about three years.

In the 2014 National Confer­ence, a good Report was produced after over six months of heated deliberations by over 600 experi­enced, selected and responsible Nigerian delegates of varied ex­periences; that if the Report was implemented could have dramat­ically-reduced ensuing divisive sociopolitical tensions bedevilling the country; but again, this im­portant Report has been rejected and abandoned by the administra­tion. The country is today much disunited and in great rancour with hate speeches from diverse sourc­es, overflowing like keg of angry palmwine! Some southern youths are calling for emergence of full-blast Biafra while some northern youths have ordered all Ndigbo to vacate their north of Nigeria before October 1, 2017 or…? Similar sack threats against Ndigbo were issued by northerners before the genocid­al pogrom of the 1966/67 Nigeria-Biafra war; may be these so-called youths want to repeat History? Above all, majority of the people of the four Zones comprising south­ern and northern minorities, the Yoruba and Igbo have been press­ing for urgent discussions over the Restructuring of Nigeria for better and fair governance; but again, the two northern Zones championed by the Hausa-Fulani are stiffly-opposing Restructuring process. The Hausa-Fulani leadership is usually the common denominator that usually works with either the Yoruba or Igbo in the divide-and-rule milieu.

This period in the life of Nigeria is the best time to finally sort out and solve the divisive mania-problems of Nigeria in her nation­hood; the best opportunity to the benefit of all is now as delay may be most disuniting and danger­ous. If Nigerians from the different Zones can come together to form and work for the APC; if diverse Nigerians can unite in the PDP to fight and sort out their internal political problems within the law up to the Supreme Court; there is no reason whatsoever as to why the people from different Zones cannot honestly-congregate to dis­cuss national sustainability/stability through Restructuring as it is the most sane option that is now open to Nigeria/Nigerians. The four agreeable Zones should solidly-stand their irrevocable grounds insisting on Restructuring while doing their utmost best to con­vince disagreeable elements from the two opposing northern Zones to reason along with them; using decent and convincing facts but not-insulting language in dialogue. The already-accepted six geopo­litical Zonal Structures with some adjustments should be used as the existing bench mark for discussion. Restructuring shall be beneficial to every section of this country; there will be justice, equity, fair play and respect for one another; decentrali­zation of powers from the centre will occur and devolution of fiscal responsibilities set up and moved to component Zonal/State/Local government component units.

A Federating Unit with a com­paratively-weak centre is envisaged as ultimate outcome where compo­nent parts will manage their socio­economic resources while contrib­uting revenue to the centre; similar Federation situation that existed pre-1966 when there were Region­al/Federal governments. The Fed­erating units will manage their economy, water/mineral resources, education, religion, environment, culture, tourism, health, internal affairs/security etc. while the cen­tre will take care of external affairs, military, territorial boundaries/ex­ternal security, common currency, nationality etc. The Federating units should have elbowroom to perform within the limits of their natural resources and human capa­bilities. All Federating units, be they Federal or the Federating Units must respect one another devoid of undue stresses, pressures, jealousy, anger and derision; there must be a sense of belonging allowed for all parties.

One is convinced that if the Igbo and Yoruba can genuinely-agree with one another as they did at the 2014 National Confab, the mi­norities would readily-join them as long as no group is being neglected/cheated; and talk to Hausa-Fulani of Northwest and Kanuri of North­east for all to agree on the Restruc­turing Discourse for overall ben­efits. The resultant Restructured Constitution 2018, will be consum­mated by the People of Nigeria to replace the military-imposed 1999 Constitution. There will be no gen­uine reason for the Restructuring exercise not to take place this time around; Nigerians will have no one to blame for any failure to restruc­ture but only themselves over any possible disastrous outcome. We must no more blame the British or the US or any country as they have their own internal problems they are tackling by themselves! The US is in a vicious power struggle with Russia; Britain in Brexit is trying to muscle out of the EU. We must try to solve our own problems by ourselves with our homegrown modality.

The Yoruba and Igbo should dis­courage their unhealthy-self-centred idiosyncrasies/rivalry and show maturity in unity/trust of purpose/solidarity and make self­less moves for national progress; also they should take the minorities along to work out modus operandi to convince the opposing Hausa-Fulani to join. One believes that some of them would provide sup­port to proper Restructuring for better Nigeria; recent signals from the Arewa leadership portend so. Come to think of it, the Yoruba has not only fought against the Igbo and vice versa but the two peoples have also worked together for the country. Ndigbo have worked with Yoruba in businesses, trade and commerce, in religious and cultural engagements, in schools, polytech­nics, Universities etc. They have achieved joint credible successes in different socioeconomic endeav­ours. They peacefully live and work together in Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha, Abuja, PortHarcourt etc.

There was the Odutola Tyre Soles at Onitsha, thriving indus­tries and factories that are owned by Ndigbo in Lagos and Ogun States, transport of oil/commercial goods lifting companies of Chief Ifeanyi Ubah’s oil and gas, Ekes­sons, CHISCO, EMZOR Phar­maceuticals etc. There are joint ventures also owned by their en­trepreneurs in banks, press/media, ICT and business centres peopled by Igbo and Yoruba partners; so also are NGOs, sports and cul­tural organizations. In many rural Yoruba and Igbo hinterlands, there are traders/artisans/entrepreneurs improving financial and agricul­tural lives. Yoruba and Igbo with other ethnic groups have worked together politically in NCNC, PDP, APC, APGA; they can also well in successful Restructuring of Nigeria otherwise.

S.A.L.V.O

“Nigeria can’t move forward without restructuring. What we have now is military structure which is at vari­ance with democracy. Our stance is total restructuring. Restructuring is not disinte­gration; it is not secession. We need it for Nigeria to move forward.”

– Senator Mao Ohuabun­wa (Abia North Senatorial Zone)

http://www.authorityngr.com/2017/08/Restructuring--NC-SW-SE-SS-Synergy-Required/