By Omeiza Ajayi

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has restated his call for the restructuring of the country, saying whether Nigeria likes it or not, restructuring has become inevitable. He said as long as the Federal Government continues to lord it over states in all matters, there would continue to be agitation for restructuring. The ex-vice president spoke at the late Gen.Usman Katsina Memorial Conference, held at the Murtala Square, Kaduna.

The theme of the conference was, ‘The Challenges of National Integration and Survival of Democracy in Nigeria’.
His words: “I suggest we resolve today to support calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation in order to strengthen its unity and stabilize its democracy. I believe that restructuring will eventually happen whether we like or support it or not. The question is whether it will happen around a conference table, in a direction influenced by us and whether we will be an equal partner in the process. Or will it happen in a more unpredictable arena and in a manner over which we have little influence? It should be at a table and we need to be at that table. A nation is an organism; it grows, it evolves, it changes, it adapts. And like other organisms if it does not adapt, it dies.

“Those who argue that restructuring of the polity won’t be necessary once we diversify the economy are mistaken. As long as the federal government remains overly dominant relative to the federating states, it will continue to matter which section of the country ‘captures’ federal power with its attendant instability. And as long as the federal government keeps the bulk of oil revenues for itself, its desire and will to provide the leadership needed to diversify the economy will continue to be limited”. On the clamour for resource control, Atiku described the call as belonging to the past.

The former number two citizen went on: “The fight in this country over ‘resource control’, while it may still have significance today, is really a fight that belongs to the past. Even a discovery of large quantities of oil and gas in the north today can only bring temporary relief but cannot reverse the fundamental shifts in the world’s energy trajectory. In any case how are we to improve this region and hold it (and the country) together in the time lag between such a discovery and actual production and revenue in-flow? I humbly submit that we need to move on, like the rest of the world.

“I am not trying to be a messenger of doom but to alert us to the serious challenges ahead if we do not take immediate corrective actions both in our economics and our politics. For this region particularly the following measures will be helpful for our economic, social and political recovery and development. Interestingly they are also what Nigeria needs”.

He said Nigeria has reached the peak of the oil economy, saying even for those who think nothing of diversifying to alternative revenue sources, the ‘jamboree’ is clearly over.

Atiku’s words: “Oil prices may still go up in real terms in the future, but the long-term trend will be downwards, and here are the reasons: New technologies of oil and gas extraction, especially hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) have helped in pumping out more oil than the world needs. In fact, those technologies have helped to push the US towards becoming the world’s top oil producer. Is it any wonder that US import of Nigerian oil has declined to almost zero?

“Growing investments in alternative energy sources as well as the declining costs per unit of these alternatives have not only added significantly to the world’s energy mix but also appear to have set the world on an irreversible move towards reliance on non-fossil and renewable energy.

“Let me give you just a few examples. In 2004 the world generated only 48 gigawatts of electricity from wind power, but by 2014 wind power accounted for 318 gigawatts. In 2004 only 2.6 gigawatts of power were generated worldwide from solar photovoltaic (PV), but by 2014, 139 gigawatts were being generated, and this excludes an additional 326 gigawatts thermal solar water heating capacity. Also total annual biofuel production rose from 30.9 billion litres in 2004 to 113.5 litres by 2014. The same phenomenal increase is noticed in annual investments in renewable energy, from a mere $39.5 billion US in 2004 to $214.4 billion by 2014.

In 2004 only 48 countries had policy targets regarding renewable energy but by 2014 the number had reached 144. As we speak here today cars using non-oil based energy either in full or in part are being produced for the mass market. And just last month the US, Canada and Mexico pledged to derived 50% of their energy from clean sources by 2025”, he added.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/restructuring-nigeria-inevitable-atiku/

Lalasticlala

Hmmm....

Osinbade (the mere commissioner) over to you

League of zombies (NgeneUkwune, omenka, PassingShot, et al) you are all invited. Come and defend the undefendable as usual

Ok

Turakin Adamawa
Atayese of Ijesha Land

Who be atiku?

Atiku you are wise!

Just wait and see how the Afonjas will come and attack Atiku now by asking why he didn't do that when he was the VP...
Ooh... One is already above me

Zombiesm is a serious disease

Jombojombo:
Atiku you are wise!

Just wait and see how the Afonjas will come and attack Atiku now by asking why he didn't do that when he was the VP...
Ooh... One is already above me

Zombiesm is a serious disease

Zombies are always predictable

Oluwabusobomi:


Zombies are always predictable

Most of them are robots anyway, so not surprised.
They have been programmed to defend every single attack on the dullard

Nigeria seems to be a joke

What Efforts Has Atiku Made Towards That 'restructuring?'

Give This Man A Strategic Position In This Government And Watch Him Go Mute

Mtchw

Afonjaism is really bad. Look even the dullards own people are beginning to distance themselves from some of his nepotistic and tribalistic policies and they are calling for restructuring. Yet the mere commissioner from the wastelands will be hailing a failing govt.

I rather not be born than to be an Afonja.

Somebody has gotten himself a 2019 campaign promise. I can feel the political undertone in his expression.

They know Nigerians are gullible! It is now that restructuring is inevitable, it wasn`t when he was second most powerful Nigerian between 1999 and 2007. He needs to tell us where he gets his money from. You can abuse our trust, but don`t try to abuse our intelligence, corrupt mediocre!

Smart Atiku has found something to campaign on. Sorry, if you meant it, start pushing for it now, not just talking about it. You Atiku have the power to get it moving right now, not "when elected" as you will start saying in 2018 for campaign, only to get to Aso rock and tell us that some cabal won't let you do it.

Restructuring Nigeria cannot be over emphasized

jejemanito:
What Efforts Has Atiku Made Towards That 'restructuring?'

Give This Man A Strategic Position In This Government And Watch Him Go Mute

Mtchw

d guy see tomorrow can't u see. I can see u are myopic.

Atiku, Atiku, Atiku, I hope this your Mr. Nice Guy lately has nothing to do with 2019?

Anyway, thanks for speaking out when virtually everybody has suddenly become dumb in that freaking country.

This is the same Atiku that has not been able to visit the U.S since 2006. He is looking for ways to become president despite his tendencies for corruption. Atiku presidential ambition is dead on arrival.

Fleshly:
Afonjaism is really bad. Look even the dullards own people are beginning to distance themselves from some of his nepotistic and tribalistic policies and they are calling for restructuring. Yet the mere commissioner from the wastelands will be hailing a failing govt.

I rather not be born than to be an Afonja.

Now I understand that flat head means flat brain, so the south yeast can easily fall for simple aboki senses. ipad is a curse

SirJeffry:
Atiku, Atiku, Atiku, I hope this your Mr. Nice Guy lately has nothing to do with 2019?

Anyway, thanks for speaking out when virtually everybody has suddenly become dumb in that freaking country.

Only decieving flat heads

Serial presidential hopeful/failure has found the sound bite to campaign with....Granted he had no power to enforce it when he was No 2 man, however hin just wake up to realise that the over bloated and stifling unitary system is retrogressive and will eventually fail now that he has seen he can't buy enough votes to realise his inordinate ambition ....

He has found the perfect word to employ in order to deceive the less than smart, illogical & mostly emotional with..Fulani man in support of fiscal federalism? Na true,

He should tell that to his oil block, his no source stupendous wealth, his university and numerous corruption scandal that he has largely escaped unscathed from!!!

Atiku 4 president 2019

Even the Dullards own kith and kin are against him, yet the mere commissioner from the most Cowardful wastern region of the world will be telling obvious lies that Nigeria needs no restructuring.

Any wonder why we refer to the Afonjas as slaves? Look no further, the answer lies in their everlasting servitude to their master the Fulanis!

That's how they all talk prior winning elections.if in doubt,check APC manifesto and campaign promises.

Seriously atiku is far better than bubuhari d dullard

..

Why are the osus crying on here . Seems the osus want Nigeria while the freeborns want Biafra . nawao
By the way , have the OSU's forgotten so quickly that Atiku is also a fura sipping , gworo munching herdsman ?? OSU IBOS ARE CONFUSED !!!

Oluwabusobomi:
Osinbade (the mere commissioner) over to you

League of zombies (NgeneUkwune, omenka, PassingShot, et al) you are all invited. Come and defend the undefendable as usual

Atiku saying this cause of 2019, IPOB yoots soon entering one chance

Another liar trying to sell lies to the youths in pparatn for 2019 I pity those that wl fall for this..

the campaign lies of 2019 have started.