The late Professor Abubakar Momoh was a celebrated polemicist. Looking at the confused state of the nation, he would have wanted to join issues with members of the ruling class on the growing demand for the restructuring of the country. In paying tribute to our fallen comrade, permit me to expose the official lie on the indivisibility and indissolubility of Nigeria.

As we are being told that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable, the federal government is busy negotiating the unity with armed groups that have decided to wage war against the State. Very recently, the authorities in Abuja negotiated with the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups to ensure uninterrupted supply of crude oil. In the same vein, the negotiation between the federal government and the Boko Haram terrorist sect has led to the release of not less than 100 abducted Chibok girls.

Let the federal government proceed to negotiate with other armed gangs, including armed robbers, armed kidnapers and armed herdsmen who are terrorising the populace. Instead of negotiating with leaders of ethnic groups, the federal government should enter into meaningful dialogue with separatists and landlords who have threatened to forcefully eject from a section of the country.

Since the young people who are asking for the balkanisation of the country and those who insist that Nigeria be kept together at all cost are disenchanted with the status quo, the APC should be prevailed upon to implement its welfare programme, including the creation of one million jobs per annum, the building of three million houses per annum, and ensuring free and compulsory primary and secondary school education for every Nigerian child. Let the federal government be told that the unity of Nigeria cannot be based on the wish of the ruling class but on social justice and equal opportunities for all citizens.

In his highly misleading rejection of the call for restructuring, Chief John Oyegun, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was reported to have said that at no time did the ruling party promise to restructure the country. According to him, “when the APC manifesto was being put together it was discussed extensively. We chose our words carefully in putting our words together and we are committed to what we have said in that manifesto.”

Another leading member of the party and one of its ideologues, Mr. Nasir El Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State has, in his characteristic arrogant manner, descended on the proponents of restructuring. As far as he is concerned, “those who are calling for restructuring are opportunists and irresponsible.” Before his latest outburst, the Progressive Governors Forum, of which Governor El Rufai is a member, had supported the call for restructuring.

It is regrettable that Chief Oyegun and Governor El Rufai are not familiar with the Manifesto of their ruling party. In the Preamble to the APC Manifesto, it is clearly stated that, “To achieve this laudable programme APC government shall restructure the country, devolve power to the units, with the best practices of federalism and eliminate unintended paralysis of the centre.” Furthermore, it is expressly stated in Section 25 – Politics & Governance – of the Manifesto that, “the APC believes that our politics is broken.

Our nation urgently needs fundamental political reform and improvement in governance to make it more transparent and accountable. APC will: initiate action to amend our Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties and responsibilities to states and local governments in order to entrench Federalism and the Federal Spirit…”

Read more at https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/07/05/apc-promised-nigeria-restructuring/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

They are aware of the right thing to do. However once they got on the gravy train, they derailed

APC can never do such...