Anyone ready for restructuring should be next president —Onwumechili

Professor Chuka Onwumechili, of the Howard University, Washington DC in the United States of America, in this interview, bares his mind on restructuring and rotational presidency in Nigeria. KUNLE ODEREMI brings excerpts:

Restructuring remains the issue in Nigeria, due to lack of inclusiveness in running the country. What kind of perspective would you like to add to the debate and demand for restructuring? 

I must state clearly that most Nigerian politicians do not mean well for the citizens of Nigeria, having abandoned many things they are supposed to have done and are busy chasing shadows and what becomes of paramount importance to them, first, which include the 2023 general elections. Most of them lack a better understanding of what restructuring represents or should be. The general clamour for the devolution of power and giving the federating states autonomy have been diverted to suit the state governors to remain emperors in their various states with little or no direct benefits evenly distributed to the citizens of their states. Under true restructuring, the government at the center should be able to provide adequate security for the citizens with the engagements of security personnel and adequately take care of their welfare. Nigeria should allow the states to develop, recruit and empower their state police to promote a strong tie in the internal security system of the country.

What can Nigeria learn on restructuring from other climes? 

In the United States of America, the states used to have powers over the American government. America is called God’s own country and country worthy of emulation today because it is heavily decentralized and this has greatly helped America in a number of ways in achieving her economic, social and political strengths. Nigeria generates a lot of revenues and the imbalanced proportion of the sharing of the revenue, has locked up the financial dominance and freedom of the nation among the comity of other nations. We have a big problem in Nigeria. The area, where we have big gap between those who have and those who do not have, is left unabridged. Restructuring as it is being practiced in Nigeria cannot resolve the myriad of problems starring the country in the face, except foods are made cheap and available to the massive Nigerians as well as other good living necessities of the people.

 You mentioned Nigerian politicians have misrepresented the significance of restructuring. What nature of restructuring do you think can best suit the country 

Restructuring of Nigeria will end up with negotiation. Both representatives from the central and the regional states will soon harness their agitations under one umbrella, which is negotiation. If this works, then we will be talking of restructuring perfectly achieved in Nigeria. The problem is whether the government will be ready to negotiate or if the negotiation will not be hijacked. What should form the basis of the negotiation? How are the resources of the nation divided? How are the Nigerian oil reserves or wells, shared and managed? Let the region that has more oils benefit appropriately from their natural resources? Also is security. Nigeria should have local security. If police is localized, Nigeria will be more effective. Why should the decision from federal might over that of the confederating states all the time?

 Then, what system of government is good to make Nigeria progress? 

There are different types of democracy. America practices representatives democracy, which if Nigeria emulates, it will be better. The Electoral Act Law 2021 that has birthed the use of direct system of selecting the candidate of any political party during primary election, is being sponsored by the legislative representatives of the Nigerian masses at the federal level. This participatory political mechanism will foster progress and development of the political parties if properly maintained.  A convergence of elected political leaders who represent the electorate can also give a direction to the political development of the nation. Notwithstanding, the Nigerian national assembly should be restructured. There has been agitation by some Nigerians, asking for separation from Nigeria. Will a breakup be a solution to national issues and the state of the nation? There will not be any breakup. In fact, I do not subscribe to breakup. I sympathize with my brothers and sisters in the South East but will advise not to push for a breakup. There are multiple options for Nigerians to find their levels. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is agitating because there is enough suffering in Nigeria but I will say no to a breakup.

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