In Nigeria today, the clamour for restucturing is becoming more strident by the day. From former Vice President Atiku to prominent leaders from southern Nigeria, it appears the common lingua now is 'restructure'.
How can we achieve this? Is it something the federal government can just declare by fiat? Is it something that is possible in a short time? This write up will attempt to answer these questions.
1. One of the most pragmatic ways to achieve fiscal restructuring or power devolution or whatever change we desire is through constitued means. One of these is the existing national assembly, as unpalatable as this may sound to some people. Vested interest groups will need to bombard their representatives with their demands or agitations. That is one of the legimiate ways to go about it. Civic groups, interest groups, regional bodies and so on can meet on the things that will be restructed. There will be need for reaching to various people and even other ethnic and interest groups in the country. This is to bring about people-oriented constitution that we have always desired. No group can do it all alone.
2. There will be need for patience. Restructuring takes time. Consultaions, reaching agreements and making compromises will definately take some time. No group can have all its demands met. There will be need to fashion out agreements and to make some concessions, and all these take time. Those giving ultimatum are only heating up the polity, although the ultimatum has served as a wake up call on the government on the fact that people desire changes. Practically, things like resructuring a nation can not be achieved as fast and as easy as some people will want us believe.
3. Demands can be made in a very civil manner without recourse to vile and gutter language. There is also no need to abuse or curse any person, ethnic or group of persons. The current spate of hate expressions in Nigeria is sickening. Let us be decent, please.
Let us all work assiduously for a better society. I believe that with sincerity of purpose and determination, things will turn around for good.