Mr Jega, professor of political science, said Nigeria stands to lose more if the existing 36 states structure are to be dismantled.

A former chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, described as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘a pipe dream” the clamour to return Nigeria to the pre-civil war regional government.

His argument was, however, countered by a former information minister, John Nwodo, with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also offering a different view on the topic.

Mr Jega, a professor of political science, said Nigeria stands to lose more if the existing 36 states structure are to be dismantled in acquiescence to the longstanding call for restructuring the country.

Mr Jega spoke at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue held on Thursday in Abuja and themed “Restructuring: Why? How?”

His argument

Upon independence in 1960, Nigeria ran a regional government with three regions, each headed by a premier — in the western, eastern and northern regions.

The midwest region was later carved out of the western region, largely in a bid to stave off ethnic crisis.

Brewing secessionist agitations made the then federal military government of Yakubu Gowon to divide the four regions into 12 states in 1967, a move made to break the power of the regions.

Subsequent military regimes, punctuated by a devastating civil war and series of coups and counter-coups, increased the number of states till the numbers reached the current 36 in 1996.

However, some Nigerians, especially sociocultural groups, have advocated for a return to the regional model.

Mr Jega said the clamour was ill-informed as existing states would nearly never give up their autonomy, and it might plunge the country into another bout of ethnographic tensions.

“In many fundamental respects, creation of states has gone a long way to mitigate real and perceived marginalization of minorities,” Mr Jega argued.

“Although given Nigeria’s complex diversity, the more states created, the more their economic viability is threatened; and the more new ‘majorities’ and ‘minorities’ emerged, with fresh demands by the ‘new minorities’ for their own states.

“The challenges and tensions that would unfold in any attempt to regroup states into regions or into mega 12 states, given that their people have tasted relative autonomy, could only best be imagined. Relative autonomy once gained, is difficult if not near impossible to voluntarily surrender.

“If the major argument against the current 36 state structure is that many seem economically unviable, there are other better ways to address that and make them more viable.

“Improved, (or good democratic) governance, with efficient allocation and utilization of resources, with curtailed corruption, and with greater effort at internal revenue generation, would make virtually all the seemingly unviable states, viable and sustainable.”

Counter opinion

The immediate past president-general of sociocultural group Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo, John Nwodo, who was one of the panellists at the event, would have none of this.

He said the 1999 constitution needs to be overhauled because it “was drafted by 47 persons appointed by the then head of state (Abdulsalami Abubakar), 40 of whom were military officers.”

Former INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, speaking at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue held in Abuja

Mr Nwodo, who was Mr Abubakar’s minister of information, said he “never saw a copy (of the constitution) and never knew who was printing it,” even though his job was to distribute the document to the country.

“We should restructure because the constitutional history of Nigeria shows that the only constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made by all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, were the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.

“The 1999 Constitution overthrew the sovereignty of the regions over their national resources and domestic security unleashing in the process an unprecedented fall of education standards, domestic security, and economic well being.

Mind restructuring is the way to go – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the event, also said restructuring the country alone would not help solve its numerous challenges, rather mind restructuring was the way to go.

He noted that Nigerians need to shun mutual suspicion towards one another as some of the challenges faced at the national level are still there at the state and local government levels.

“We cannot restructure without solving issues that polarize us: nepotism, ethnic and religious differences and lack of patriotism,” he said.

A cross section of the guests at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue held in Abuja

“Discussion on restructuring will not help except we restructure our minds. Some of the challenges faced at the national level are still there at the state and local government levels,” he added.

“Take a look at how local government elections are conducted at the state level. Why is it very difficult for an opposition party to win a chairmanship or councillorship seat in a state, despite the fact that the same party probably secured seats in the State Assembly and National Assembly elections, organised by a federal election management body?

“Like every other nation, Nigeria is a project in progress and should confidently discuss her experiences and fashion out solutions to improve on her performance and the well being of all citizens. We should all do our little best in our little corners to overcome the challenges we face, and work hard to reposition our country for a greater and more prosperous tomorrow for our children.”

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/437892-jonathan-jega-nwodo-express-divergent-views-on-restructuring-nigeria.html

OK

Iyiataata92:
OK

What's is ok

Elderly way of space booking

men naija done cast

with war in the horizon restructuring is not an important issue now

Attahiru Jega is one of the major reasons we are in the mess we find ourselves today. He helped rigged in the vegetable president, turned blind eye to child voting in the northern region and now here he is, speaking the mind of the Fulani Cabals against the restructuring of Nigeria.

Sensible South Nigerians doesn't give a heck about restructuring Nigeria anymore. We care more about disintegration of the dogshit of a Nation called Nigeria.


MAY I LIVE TO WITNESS THE DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA IN MY LIFETIME, AMEN

Jega is a goat. He's so full of himself and his Fulani supremacist agenda that he cannot give any objective opinion on National polity.

If Nigeria cannot go back to the 1963 constitution then let's split peacefully to at least 5 countries

Foolish Nigerians, Stupid Leaders...

~90% of Nigerians are MADDD!

The north is scared of restructuring

Those guys are taking us backwards

Nigeria seriously need mental restructuring and we need it as fast as possible

Nigeria needs to disintegrate to avert further bloodshed in nearest future. The marriage has failed, so no point forcing people with different ideologies and cultures to be together, its totally insane.

A United and intelligent Nigeria is better than a broken Nigeria.



Every country is a open confra as a whole. I prefer that kind confra pass internal confra. Na confra way oda people fit join from dem own confra, like immigrants or friendly places.


If Nigeria can mature from tribal and religious intolerance, I believe they can be a world teacher and great student like the USA and other correct places.



When you see how Oga Biden dey flow with activity, you go just dey see wetin e mean to be humble and prepared.

GEJ ,HAS SPOKEN THE FACTS,NWODO IS STUCK IN THE PAST, Nigerians problem is our thinking nothing else., not the leadership but everybody, from the ground up.

I go with Jona.

I know our leaders are senseless and got no touch with reality, someone like Adeshina who has mastered the act of living a fantasy/virtual life. However, you and I need to stop this greed thing. Every Nigeria go this unconscious, innate bit of wanting to get more than they actually deserve. Long throat na another thing. Just because your neighbor buy TV, you become restless.

vioment:
A United and intelligent Nigeria is better than a broken Nigeria.



Every country is a open confra as a whole. I prefer that kind confra pass internal confra. Na confra way oda people fit join from dem own confra, like immigrants or friendly places.


If Nigeria can mature from tribal and religious intolerance, I believe they can be a world teacher and great student like the USA and other correct places.



When you see how Oga Biden dey flow with activity, you go just dey see wetin e mean to be humble and prepared.

And you think Nigeria can mature from tribal and religious intolerance? Please be realistic

it's unfortunate that most of the comments above did not take time to counter jega's comment (since they seem not to agree with it).
jega is right,
1. all minority ethnic groups, like ibibio(akwa ibom state), idoma( benue if am not mistaken), efik (cross river), etc will not want to loose their autonomy✓
2. Albert Einstein is credited with saying you cannot do one over and over and expect different result, we did regional government with a "peoples' Constitution'' before and it was the major catalyst of the civil war (not corruption), we should not allow nostalgia and raw ethnocentrism by majority ethnic groups lead us by that way✓
3. GEJ is right. But if we wait to controls people's minds, we may have well become communist and loose human rights. let's work with what we see✓
4. why is greater autonomy for the 36 state, national representation according to population, state (and county Police?), 100% percent control of land oil for oil-producing state so difficult to be considered, except maybe for the fact that it would hurt the elites?✓

Restrucuring wont change anything..
Watin suppose work fine now na total break up..
Ka ndi nmadu nile choba ka ha ge si ne bi ndu fah..
Ogwo'go k'oham n onu...

SouthNigerian:
Attahiru Jega is one of the major reasons we are in the mess we find ourselves today. He helped rigged in the vegetable president, turned blind eye to child voting in the northern region and now here he is, speaking the mind of the Fulani Cabals against the restructuring of Nigeria.

Sensible South Nigerians doesn't give a heck about restructuring Nigeria anymore. We care more about disintegration of the dogshit of a Nation called Nigeria.


MAY I LIVE TO WITNESS THE DISINTEGRATION OF NIGERIA IN MY LIFETIME, AMEN

Jega is right...Even if disintegration sets in, you'll still have majority and minorities, with the minorities clamoring for inclusion...

You think Governors, Senators, Representatives and other political players in a state will give up their position for a regional government? Not possible...

As Jonathan rightly posited, we need mind restructuring...At present, if the federal, state and local government judiciously spend the resources at their disposal, we won't be having this discussion...

Jona remains the true leader Nigeria ever had.

only a sincere conversation can fix things in Nigeria, and restructuring would not do much for Nigeria, if our state government can not account for the little revenue they get how can they account for much. the biggest failure in Nigeria tbh is our judicial system people just loot and embezzle and carry out so much impunity you know why because their is no consequence for their actions, when you see a sane nation and a shithole the major difference is the rule of law. Nigeria 's biggest fail will always be the judiciary.

anybody can express their veiw buh not jega please

onoja12:
GEJ ,HAS SPOKEN THE FACTS,NWODO IS STUCK IN THE PAST, Nigerians problem is our thinking nothing else., not the leadership but everybody, from the ground up.

Your thinking would overhaul the tilted constitution?

If you people still believe in one Nigeria without restructuring, in the next 100 years, poverty, nepotism,insecurity, fulanism would still be staring at your face,

Nwodo has told you as an information minister was not privy to a constitution draft that was suppose to cater for the people, and clamours are there to overhaul this constitution that was drafted by 40 northern military tribalist, yet the yorubas sees nothing wrong in this

Jonathan my brother is so weak that he cant speak the truth, what is mind restructuring, would mind restructuring stop the appointment of northern ppl alone, would it stop the employment of 98% of northerners in fed ministries, parastatal, agencies , nnpc, nlng etc.

Restructure this forsaken country and save the plight of our yet unborn children esp from the south from economic, religious and political quagmire.

Jega was bribe with billions to rigg election, so he cant be objective in his assertion about restructuring. Moreover the current status favour them, so they see nothing wrong in it.

Time will come when all the enemies of restructuring would be dealt with, time will come when all the saboteurs and northerners would be shown the way out of our land , oil facilities ,water ways etc, just like the way kukah was ask to apologies or leave sokoto,

And it is not going to be riotous, it would be a joint and concerted movement of the south south and south east.

The only person that speak a little sense is mr Nwodo.
The 1999 constitution is a farce book created by the north to steal resources and power.
Every state should be controlling its resources and to that extent, the people can hold its govt responsible on finance and the immunity enjoy by these governors because the central govt. don't and won't keep these governors on their toes.
Restructuring is the only solution to this country.
I don't see why a governor destroy products of a registered company in nigeria on religious hypocracy but still benefitted from tax generated from that same establishment.
Let state use the resources you have to an extent of developing your state and most state will rise up to the occassion and stop idleness of their people.
The real truth is, the northern states don't want restructuring and i don't know why.

TooMuchStuff:
Jega is a goat. He's so full of himself and his Fulani supremacist agenda that he cannot give any objective opinion on National polity.

If Nigeria cannot go back to the 1963 constitution then let's split peacefully to at least 5 countries

Did you even read the entire article. Do you even know of the 1963 constitution, a flawed constitution, a tedious exercise in ethnic contest. Nigeria has moved on from the 1963 constitution yes the 1999 constitution is flawed and may not entirely represent the aspirations of the people, however the people send representatives to the national assembly every 4 years, those representatives need to be held accountable.

What Jega said is spot on and is the reality , not a single state in the SE, NC , NE or the SS especially would submit to relinquishing the autonomy.
The SW and NW are substantially more comfortable with the idea of a desolving the stated into one they already have existing organisation to promote a unified economic development plan

TooMuchStuff:
Jega is a goat. He's so full of himself and his Fulani supremacist agenda that he cannot give any objective opinion on National polity.

If Nigeria cannot go back to the 1963 constitution then let's split peacefully to at least 5 countries

There are 6 region in Nigeria, which mean 6 countries. You want to join SS and SE together abi

vioment:
A United and intelligent Nigeria is better than a broken Nigeria.



Every country is a open confra as a whole. I prefer that kind confra pass internal confra. Na confra way oda people fit join from dem own confra, like immigrants or friendly places.


If Nigeria can mature from tribal and religious intolerance, I believe they can be a world teacher and great student like the USA and other correct places.



When you see how Oga Biden dey flow with activity, you go just dey see wetin e mean to be humble and prepared.

I absolutely agree with you.

GeneralPula:
Nonsense. Don't be deceived by this restructuring. It's becoming another political word for scamming us !

Instead of all these Jangbajantis talk, make them tell all state Governors to stop looting. Make them start to dey spend 80-90% of what they getting from Federal government into their respective state. Ya'll will see as everything and everyone will fastly get alright..

We're suppose to start asking our governors what they do with state allocations. Most of them can't even construct durable roads, hospitals, schools yet they're getting money for all. State governors are one of the front evil among Nigeria politicians, yet they do live in peace/get away with it..

Nonsense is blaming your president and leaving una state Governors wey dey loot almost everyday to live in Peace !!

Restructuring will make us face our local leaders and the governors squarely

Goodluck Jonathan said it all. Mind restructuring is the way. We seriously need mental revolution in Nigeria.

The north are the problems of this country. They are not ready to listen others nationalities in Nigeria. They are not open for discussion on how to move the country forward, but they want them to live together with them.
For the past two decades, sensible People have been clamoring for constitutional review or restructuring, but they keep giving deaf ears. When things degenerate to irreconcilable levels, they have themselves to blame. How would 47 person come up with constitution of 250 ethnic nationalities and over 200million people. So, they think this ethnicity, despotism, social injustices and religious discrimination can be sustained for how long? It is foolish to think this momentum can sustain.