THE Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Anambra State Chapter, said they are backing restructuring of Nigeria as a way out of the agitation for Nigeria disintegration.
The administrative institute also said that the persistent killings that have been the order of the day in Nigeria by suspected Fulani herdsmen were a reflection of the prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement policies of the country.
This was during this year Reputation Summit with the theme, “Restructuring Nigeria: A panacea for National Unity,” organised by the institute in Awka on Tuesday.
In a paper containing the NIPR position on the challenges facing Nigeria’s oneness and presented by one of the awardees, Senator Ben Obi, they said that the demands for political and economic restructuring could be met by adjusting the federal system of government.
The body said adjusting the federal system, will not on its own address be ungodly in circumstances befalling the country but it is worth pursuing to meet the demands of various ethnic groups.
The focus of this restructuring is to restore the principle of non-centralisation of power in the country’s federal arrangement being the defining element of a federal polity.
“Alongside the imperative of political and fiscal decentralisation, contiguous states can pool resources to address common development challenges and embark on projects that can have maximum effect and
efficiency through endeavours,” they said.
The issues of structures in the Nigerian federalism and the mode of allocation and control of resources among the constituent elements, also the deficit in governance and political accountability address.
NIPR challenges ethnic agitators and militant groups to demand good governance and effective service delivery at all levels where the Nigerian state system exists with endowed constitutional obligation.
The NIPR condemned the continue killings of Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Kogi States people in the North Central by suspected Herdsmen, which they said is openly seeking the dismemberment of Nigeria.
It is however conceded that the proliferation of these youth group causing havoc in the society in the first place is a reflection of the failure of development agenda of the Federal Government that has not
created a future for its youth population who now turn their energy to unproductive ventures, including serving as political thugs for politicians out of power.
“While the NIPR believes that the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable and is here to stay, it is a resolve that must be underlined by the commitment of public office holders at all levels to effectively govern and deliver services and promote social justice, make policies and pronouncements sensitive to Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural diversity and promote security and welfare of all citizens in their respective jurisdictions irrespective of the ethnicity and religion of individuals and groups.
“This is to remind Nigerians that the highest political ideal, which Nigeria of all political tendencies and persuasions must seek to pursue is the preservation of Nigeria as one entity within which we can pursue the lingering crisis of development and nation unity.
The PRO’s identified failure of development and nation building, regional inequality, failure of democratic governance and dangerous manipulation of difference as some of the issues, which, in their view, produced the tension characterised by competing demands for ethnic justice, pronounced and silent self-determination agenda, hate politics and extreme demand to split Nigeria.
“The challenge before us as Nigerians, therefore, is to commit ourselves to the unity of the country. We must create by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongues and localities.
“While acknowledging that as a nation, we do have challenges, NIPR believes that the resolution of those challenges rests with the development of our democracy.
“It is therefore incumbent on us to fashion out our own type of federalism that is best suited to our people and to local circumstances. There should be genuine efforts to move our country forward.”
