There are always buzzwords within the Nigerian polity at any point in time and currently, the popular one is ‘restructuring’. Former, Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere and other groups have all called for restructuring as the panacea for solving Nigeria’s problems. Even the APC during the 2015 general election promised restructuring of the country.

However, the problem I have with this line of reasoning is that it actually fails to address the real trouble with Nigeria which is its people. It is tempting to identify our problem as that of poor leadership but if you consider the fact that leaders do not fall from outer space and emerge from among us the followers, you will understand the limitations of this line of thought.

A look at history shows several attempts to restructure Nigeria. In 1963, Nigeria abandoned the parliamentary system of government for the presidential one as it became a republic. Late Gen. Aguyi Ironsi when he came to power in 1966 essentially turned Nigeria to a unitary state, that failed too.

We used to have a regional form of government, that was dropped in favour of states. I can go on with the different attempts to restructure Nigeria that have all failed to lead us to the promised land.

Why?

The answer is simple, we the people of Nigerians have mastered the art of sabotage. We excel at undermining systems with our primitive greed, corruption, tribalism and nepotism. Until we significantly shed these negative attributes, we will not experience true progress and development.

Every country, institution and even individuals require positive change from time-to-time and the true reforms and restructuring that we require as a nation will evolve over time rather than be contrived for personal interests and gain which seem to be the motivation for those clamouring loudest for restructuring Nigeria at the moment. We need to change ourselves first and make the most of what we have at the moment before any restructuring will add any value to us as a people.

Source: http://www.opinions.ng/restructuring-nigeria-convenient-chant-political-opportunists/

Clearly the restructuraliars will never explain why both their state and LG leadership fail in delivering good governance but are quick to invent their bogeyman the NORT to hide their criminality and fetid scum baggery.

Yoruba muslim will support the fulani lords to keep the status quo. That funta jalon must a.s.s must be licked nu nu.

We can just do the ultimate solution......
Outright division of the cesspit called Nigeria..

We don't have to be together.
The India of Colonial era is today Bangladesh, India and Pakistan..

Singapore and Malaysia were together as one entity during the Colonial times..

Se wetin dey......??

If they don't want restructuring, let this God forsaken joke of a country divide.

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Agumbankembu:
Yoruba muslim will support the fulani lords to keep the status quo. That funta jalon must a.s.s must be licked nu nu.

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Simple analysis and rebuttal you cannot do. What happened to all the 'restructuring' identified in the article?

maclatunji:
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Simple analysis and rebuttal you cannot do. What happened to all the 'restructuring' identified in the article?

Is it today you people have talking about restructuring, what is holding you people You afonjans are now the government

Agumbankembu:
Yoruba muslim will support the fulani lords to keep the status quo. That funta jalon must a.s.s must be licked nu nu.

In his mind he has made the most intelligent statement in his entire life.....what a pity, this is the sort of brilliance that will lead berrfraud.

evilyoruba:

Is it today you people have talking about restructuring, what is holding you people You afonjans are now the government

What is stopping your people from properly managing your state and LGs.

vedaxcool:


What is stopping your people from properly managing your state and LGs.

and what is stopping your greedy northern leaders from developing the north from abject poverty and backwardness?

Restructure ko refurbish ni, divide this country make we hear word o jare, as if we don't know that their greedy fore fathers abolished regionalism.
The people who whine most about restructuring are the ones whose leaders are probably without heads not to talk of brains, wining and dining with the federal government for over sixteen years and still have nothing to show for their so called advantage.
After the restructuring, they will probably be asking for remerger, let us dissolve this country, let everyone answer their fathers names.

Amarabae:
and what is stopping your greedy northern leaders from developing the north from abject poverty and backwardness?

The same thing stopping your greedy southern leaders from developing the south from unemployment, criminality and backwardness.

The. present political system has done more harm than good to Nigeria. We either restructure or disintegrate. There is no two ways about it.


Come to think of it, are we practicing Unitary system or federal system? Are we practicing confused system?

So youre admitting that the APC are political opportunists?

TonyeBarcanista:
The. present political system has done more harm than good to Nigeria. We either restructure or disintegrate. There is no two ways about it.


Come to think of it, are we practicing Unitary system or federal system? Are we practicing confused system?

If you like, use Confederal system of government, Nigeria will still not develop if the people do not change.

maclatunji:


If you like, use Confederal system of government, Nigeria will still not develop if the people do not change.

It's obvious that a lot of people don't know the effect of a working system in a society. Unfortunately, you are among this group.

Why would an educated man play down the importance of restructuring simply because of unfounded fear that the new system won't be of favor to him even when such is unfounded?

For the sake of emphasis, a restructured Nigeria that operates Federal system will solve problems of continuous cry of marginalisation by almost every part of the country, it will help tackle insecurity, it will open the eyes of citizens to elect leaders that are capable because they know that doing the contrary will spell doom on them since no free money will come from anywhere, it will also lead to development of federating units.

vedaxcool:


What is stopping your people from properly managing your state and LGs.

What is stopping you people from going your different way

TonyeBarcanista:
It's obvious that a lot of people don't know the effect of a working system in a society. Unfortunately, you are among this group.

Why would an educated man play down the importance of restructuring simply because of unfounded fear that the new system won't be of favor to him even when such is unfounded?

For the sake of emphasis, a restructured Nigeria that operates Federal system will solve problems of continuous cry of marginalisation by almost every part of the country, it will help tackle insecurity, it will open the eyes of citizens to elect leaders that are capable because they know that doing the contrary will spell doom on them since no free money will come from anywhere, it will also lead to development of federating units.

I am not afraid of any 'unfavourable' outcome. I am just a good student of history. We have been peddling these lies to ourselves probably since Independence. It is the people that have to change more than any system.

maclatunji:


I am not afraid of any 'unfavourable' outcome. I am just a good student of history. We have been peddling these lies to ourselves probably since Independence. It is the people that have to change more than any system.

There is no lie anywhere, Nigeria has never given this issue the needed attention at any time.

What Ironsi and other Generals did was not restructuring but putting system in place to consolidate their hold on power. Nobody asked Ironsi to abolish regional system, he did it for his personal interest.

We now operate a fraudulent constitution that was imposed on us by Abdulsallam and his friends without any space for REFERENDUM, neither were Nigerians involved at any stage in the draft of the system we presently practice. Where lies the Power of the people? Why should Nigeria be structured in a way that leaders at state level still look up to Abuja? Which society is that done? No wonder Abuja determines who becomes who become what at state level.

TonyeBarcanista:
There is no lie anywhere, Nigeria has never given this issue the needed attention at any time.

What Ironsi and other Generals did was not restructuring but putting system in place to consolidate their hold on power. Nobody asked Ironsi to abolish regional system, he did it for his personal interest.

We now operate a fraudulent constitution that was imposed on us by Abdulsallam and his friends without any space for REFERENDUM, neither were Nigerians involved at any stage in the draft of the system we presently practice. Where lies the Power of the people? Why should Nigeria be structured in a way that leaders at state level still look up to Abuja? Which society is that done? No wonder Abuja determines who becomes who become what at state level.

Maclatunji is right on this. it's not the system per say, it's the people and that's the truth.

We have practiced this federal system you guys are clamoring for?... why do you think the first coup happenned?, even with a weak centre. Nothing will change if the basic orientation of the people do not change, whatever the system. Nigeria needs meritocracy instead of primodial religious bigotry and nepotism.

For example, Look at Ibori and Alamesigha. With the billions they got from the federal allocations plus 13% derivatives did they turn Delta and Bayelsa states too dubai you can imagine now giving the same rougues full control of the resources..what do you think will happen?
Imagine if them corrupt Ibori are the one's incharge of the whole oil wealth.... it's just crazy...and this goes to all the states and their respective governors. While I agree that some functions could be devolved, Nigeria urgently needs an electoral reform that would make sure people's votes actually count and that elected officials can be held to account and that will be the beginning to better accountablility in our system. We have a long way to go.

TonyeBarcanista:
There is no lie anywhere, Nigeria has never given this issue the needed attention at any time.

What Ironsi and other Generals did was not restructuring but putting system in place to consolidate their hold on power. Nobody asked Ironsi to abolish regional system, he did it for his personal interest.

We now operate a fraudulent constitution that was imposed on us by Abdulsallam and his friends without any space for REFERENDUM, neither were Nigerians involved at any stage in the draft of the system we presently practice. Where lies the Power of the people? Why should Nigeria be structured in a way that leaders at state level still look up to Abuja? Which society is that done? No wonder Abuja determines who becomes who become what at state level.

And who will be the 'representatives' of the people to draft such a 'people's constitution'? The truth of the matter is those military officers hardly would be able to draft a constitution without the input of people and the 1999 constitution was largely copied from the 1979 constitution which was also drafted by a committee of experts that consulted widely.

It is therefore not correct that Nigerians have not had inputs in the constitution. The truth is: not every Nigerian can decide every detail of the constitution. This adequately addresses the issue:

maclatunji:

Nigeria 1978

In 1978, the military regime in control of Nigeria promulgated a new constitution to allow the country to come under democratic governance. The constitution was drafted to confer legitimacy and stability to a federal government that had seen a strong secessionist movement, and a series of coups since independence. Chief of State General Murtala Muhammed (who had led a bloodless coup against another in July 1975) initiated the process in October 1975, shortly after coming to power. The military leadership appointed a constitutional drafting committee of 50 experts (primarily academics and lawyers) to produce initial text for the new constitution. One appointee refused to serve, and the remaining 49-member committee was convened for its first meeting on October 18, 1975. Although the military government provided the committee with some explicit recommendations, the committee pursued an ad hoc, open-ended review of constitutional forms, taking the models of United States, Pakistan, India, and Francophone African states into consideration. Six subcommittees developed recommendations, which were considered and amended by the full committee. The committee invited memoranda from the public and received over 350 (written) responses over a period of 5 and a half months. All but 2 members of the committee supported the resulting draft, which was submitted with a lengthy report to a new chief of state (Muhammed was killed in a failed coup attempt in February) on September 14, 1976. The report was published and was subject to much debate (particularly in universities and the media), over the course of the following year.

On August 31, 1977, the ruling council created a Constitutional Assembly to consider the report. The assembly was comprised of 230 members, 20 of whom were appointed by the military regime, and 7 of whom were recruited from the drafting committee. Most delegates were chosen by local councils (elected in December 1976) and were apportioned by both state and population distribution. The assembly convened in October of 1977 and reviewed the draft for 9 months. The proposals were debated widely in the press and at special conferences, although many of the deliberations were conducted behind closed doors. Debate surrounding provisions for Sharia law in the federal system were particularly contentious, leading some members of the Assembly to (temporarily) walk out. Many amendments were made (particularly regarding the number and composition of local governments) but the basic structure agreed on by the CDC was left in place. The amended draft was then forwarded to the military council where further amendments were made prior to its promulgation by decree on September 21, 1978.

Throughout the process, the ruling military council retained power to veto or amend the constitution, and exercising this prerogative they made another substantive amendment to the constitution in September of 1979. On July 7, 1979 the first elections for a 95-member senate were held. Pre-election tensions ran high but the election-day atmosphere was reportedly calm. Although there was ample time for public comment and considerable media coverage, the lengthy and complicated text was not fully translated into languages other than English, and was not readily accessible to large segments of the population. Observers later protested that its purpose was first and foremost to protect the interests of the elite. Within four years there was considerable political disaffection with the new regime, and on December 31, 1983, military leaders again overthrew the civilian administration.

Source: https://www.princeton.edu/~pcwcr/reports/nigeria1978.html

People just twist history to suit themselves. Our problem is not the really system but the people.

TonyeBarcanista:
There is no lie anywhere, Nigeria has never given this issue the needed attention at any time.

What Ironsi and other Generals did was not restructuring but putting system in place to consolidate their hold on power. Nobody asked Ironsi to abolish regional system, he did it for his personal interest.

We now operate a fraudulent constitution that was imposed on us by Abdulsallam and his friends without any space for REFERENDUM, neither were Nigerians involved at any stage in the draft of the system we presently practice. Where lies the Power of the people? Why should Nigeria be structured in a way that leaders at state level still look up to Abuja? Which society is that done? No wonder Abuja determines who becomes who become what at state level.

In the 1999 constitution as amended, The president has the powers to call a referendum but it's never been done because of greed and selfishness and we have never had leaders that put the national interest above self interest. Even implementing the last Confab will go a long way in solving the ills that bedevil this nation. we are just cursed with power hungry leadership that sabotage and never make the system work.

See the road in your neighbourhood is the work of your local government as enshrined in the constitution, even some roads are state while others are federal....Ask yourself the states and local roads are they functioning well?...what are they doing with the funds they get?
These are the real issues.

dyydxx:


Maclatunji is right on this. it's not the system per say, it's the people and that's the truth.

We have practiced this federal system you guys are clamoring for?... why did the first coup happen, even with a weak centre. Nothing will change if the basic orientation of the people do not change, whatever the system. Nigeria needs meritocracy instead of primodial religious bigotry and nepotism.

For example, Look at Ibori and Alamesigha. With the billions they got from the federal allocations plus 13% derivatives did they turn Delta and Bayelsa states too dubai you can imagine now giving the same rougues full control of the resources..what do you think will happen?
Imagine if them corrupt Ibori are the one's incharge of the whole oil wealth.... it's just crazy...and this goes to all the states and their respective governors. While I agree that some functions could be devolved, Nigeria urgently needs an electoral reform that would make sure people's votes actually count and that elected officials can be held to account and that will be the beginning to better accountablility in our system. We have a long way to go.

Thank you my brother.

Lalasticlala, this is a front page worthy thread. Nigerians need education on the real issues affecting our polity.

I read alot of sides but I do think restructuring could work better. I don't see point going back to region again they were fragmenting just like states did because minorities felt marginalized. I don't agree with allocation system and federal government owning all land and mineral rights exclusively.

Alot of this is nature vs nuture. Good policies will make this nation better. The millitary government distorted some of the progress due to their tendencies of centralization.

The LG failed due to constitutional handicap. I wrote 1000 word piece on it.

http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/Nigeria_Facts/MilitaryRule/federalism_ekeh.htm

Blue3k:
I read alot of sides but I do think restructuring could work better. I don't see point going back to region again they were fragmenting just like states did because minorities felt marginalized. I don't agree with allocation system and federal government owning all land and mineral rights exclusively.

Alot of this is nature vs nuture. Good policies will make this nation better. The millitary government distorted some of the progress do to their tendencies of centralization.

The LG failed due to constitutional handicap. I wrote 1000 word piece on it.

http://www.waado.org/nigerdelta/Nigeria_Facts/MilitaryRule/federalism_ekeh.htm

Would try to read in my spare time.

maclatunji:


If you like, use Confederal system of government, Nigeria will still not develop if the people do not change.

How can people change when the president you voted in cannot keep to his words.

Yoruba muslims trying so hard to help their masters from the north. Let Nigeria divide it be restructured QED

dyydxx:


Maclatunji is right on this. it's not the system per say, it's the people and that's the truth.

We have practiced this federal system you guys are clamoring for?... why do you think the first coup happenned?, even with a weak centre. Nothing will change if the basic orientation of the people do not change, whatever the system. Nigeria needs meritocracy instead of primodial religious bigotry and nepotism.

For example, Look at Ibori and Alamesigha. With the billions they got from the federal allocations plus 13% derivatives did they turn Delta and Bayelsa states too dubai you can imagine now giving the same rougues full control of the resources..what do you think will happen?
Imagine if them corrupt Ibori are the one's incharge of the whole oil wealth.... it's just crazy...and this goes to all the states and their respective governors. While I agree that some functions could be devolved, Nigeria urgently needs an electoral reform that would make sure people's votes actually count and that elected officials can be held to account and that will be the beginning to better accountablility in our system. We have a long way to go.

This is nonsense Sir! Never a time has federalism been practiced here. Even the regionalism that was practiced in the late 50s-60s was falsified.

The argument of Ibori and Co hold no water, I won't waste my time on them

maclatunji:


Would try to read in my spare time.

Text reader app makes reading these type of stuff much easier. I use @voice aloud reader on my Android devices. Just listen to the text in background whill you go on with day.

maclatunji:


And who will be the 'representatives' of the people to draft such a 'people's constitution'? The truth of the matter is those military officers hardly would be able to draft a constitution without the input of people and the 1999 constitution was largely copied from the 1979 constitution which was also drafted by a committee of experts that consulted widely.

It is therefore not correct that Nigerians have not had inputs in the constitution. The truth is: not every Nigerian can decide every detail of the constitution. This adequately addresses the issue:



People just twist history to suit themselves. Our problem is not the really system but the people.

Pls stop insulting sanity and commonsense.

All I see is "Military appoints" so and so to do so and so. who is even the military? From where did they derive authority? Have you heard about REFERENDUM? The people are said to have input when proposals for a country's system pass through referendum, otherwise, it is RUBBISH.

WHY did Turkey hold referendum to amend the country's constitution? Why didn't the PM setup "committee" or confab to do the job? Why didn't Britain setup committee to determine Brexit? Why did it go through referendum? Take a look at the Americans and their first, second, third etc amendment, it went through referendum for it to be considered sacred.

I don't blame you Sir, because most Nigerians have little or no idea on how people determines system of government.

dyydxx:


In the 1999 constitution as amended, The president has the powers to call a referendum but it's never been done because of greed and selfishness and we have never had leaders that put the national interest above self interest. Even implementing the last Confab will go a long way in solving the ills that bedevil this nation. we are just cursed with power hungry leadership that sabotage and never make the system work.

See the road in your neighbourhood is the work of your local government as enshrined in the constitution, even some roads are state while others are federal....Ask yourself the states and local roads are they functioning well?...what are they doing with the funds they get?
These are the real issues.

When discussing intellectually always avoid bringing petty gist.

Which part of the constitution allows for Referendum? Why do we like to rely on lies? If you think federalism is about good roads then you should stop quoting me plz as I feel embarrassed.

I know it's not your fault at all because most Nigerians are misinformed on the concept of federalism. No sane or insane country worldwide practice the kind of system we are practicing. I mean our system is beyond just insanity

TonyeBarcanista:
This is nonsense Sir! Never a time has federalism been practiced here. Even the regionalism that was practiced in the late 50s-60s was falsified.

The argument of Ibori and Co hold no water, I won't waste my time on them

i dont think you even understand what you are clamoring for. if you can't see beyond systems to know that systems are made by humans, for humans and not vice versa then frankly it's a moot point debating with you. Your so called 'federalism' in what ever forms, whether it is the true federalism or fiscal federalism or whatever kind of federalism is already primed to fail if it's still the same mindset operating now that will still exist.

When the so called Northerns are not there anymore, it would devolved into I'm itsekiri, I'm an Ikwerre man, I'm egba,I'm ijebu blah blah blah.
Just a waste of time