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‘We should never fear to restructure and we should not restructure in fear’- Ekweremadu

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INSECURITY: Spend all the money in CBN on police, army, nothing will change —Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has argued that restructuring Nigeria was inevitable, pointing to signs from the different regions showing increasing gravitation towards the concept.

Ekweremadu stated this at a two-day Retreat by Southern Senators Forum in Calabar on Friday.

While dismissing the fear in some quarters that restructuring would cause the break-up of the country, he explained that restructuring was not the same as resource control as the renewed search for oil around the Lake Chad, Sokoto and Benue River Basins in recent times appeared to suggest.

According to the senator, whereas federating units were expected to have more control over their resources in a restructured Nigeria, there would always be an Equalisation Fund to ensure that every region thrived above a reasonable threshold.

“In fact, oil and gas is among the least strategic endowments of the nation today and in the years ahead. Oil is fast losing its import in the global economy.

“Many of the heavy buyers are not only finding alternatives to oil, but are also setting deadlines for the phasing out of oil-powered engines and automobiles.

“But, what else can cure our fixation on oil except a return to the original master plan – the quest for a return to the old covenant and original foundation laid by the country’s forefathers.

“This quest is to revive the original master plan, removing those ugly and excess weights introduced by successive military regimes.

“It is an admission that we cannot continue to do the same thing that has failed us for more than half a century and expect a different result.

“If you are driving to Abuja from Ibadan and you face Lagos, you can only end up in Badagry or the Atlantic,’’ he said.

The lawmaker pointed out that the subject of restructuring appeared to have had divided opinions. He recalled that Nigeria’s independence was delayed till 1960 to give room for more dialogue and ensure that no part of the country was left behind.

Read also: Unsure of his survival in APC, Atiku resigns

He argued that it was wisdom on the part of the founding fathers that ensured that the current map of Nigeria was retained.

Ekweremadu said that there was no other viable option than restructuring if Nigeria must fulfill its full potential.

He said,  “I believe that the man from Zamfara is unlikely to stand against a return to true federalism if he is made to understand that such would allow the state to exploit the abundant gold and granite in the state.

“The woman from Kogi will not likely oppose restructuring if she understands how rich the state is in solid minerals such as coal, iron ore, ornamental stone, gemstone, limestone, feldspar, phosphate, mica, and granite.

“And, how restructuring the country will give the state constitutional access to those mineral deposits could transform Kogi to one of the richest states in the country.

“The man from the North-East will not likely oppose decentralised policing if he understands that his family and business will be better protected’’.

The deputy senate president said the Nigeria Police Force needed to be decentralised as a major component of the advocated restructuring exercise, noting that the rating of the force by International Police Association and the Institute for Peace and Security as the worst police in the world made a serious case for the restructuring of the nation’s police.

He pointed out that the rating had been the worst on all the measured parameters because the police had not been effectively decentralised.

He said, “Nigeria is the only country in the world with a federal system of government but running a unitary system of policing.

“Again, it is not realistic to expect the North to easily give away the advantages the status quo confers on it.

“Since revenues, appointments, projects, and other various opportunities are shared mainly on the basis of states and local governments, we will not realistically expect the region to give up the numerous states and local governments it currently enjoys.

“We will not expect the region to give up all these to embrace regionalism or creation of more states to strike a structural balance.

“But, we stand better chances if we engage in good faith, responsible and respectful dialogue to make every section of the country to see the bigger picture.

“Such healthy dialogues will also show that a man cannot enjoy his perceived advantages when his neighbours are angry since a man who feels unjustly treated will never be interested in peace.’’

Ekweremadu said that restructuring could only be achieved by adopting a piecemeal approach rather than seeking to do everything at once, arguing that as people begin to experience the gains of gradual restructuring, they will crave for more.

“Interestingly, quite a number of prominent voices in the North have also thrown their weights behind the restructuring of the country. I am sure that many will join in due course.

“We must leverage on the influence of those who are on the same page with us on the vexed matter.

“This is having at the back of our mind a restructuring outcome that guarantees our indivisibility and promotes national integration.

“A restructuring that will guarantee our unity and national integration must address the issue of power rotation among the constituent parts of the country’’, he said.

Also, Ekweremadu called for devolution of powers to make the centre less attractive, as well as a single-term presidency that would rotate among the geographical zones.

The legislator opined that this would reassure ethnic groups that power would come at a given interval, thereby inspiring commitment and loyalty to the nation.

He commended the forum for raising the standard of ongoing national debate on restructuring, adding that he was impressed by the theme of the retreat – National Unity and Restructuring.

He said, “As we sit back to listen to the erudite minds here gathered, and as we share ideas, let patriotism and dedication to a better and greater Nigeria, rule.

“Let us bear in mind that we cannot restructure without unity, and certainly that restructuring will better guarantee a united and prosperous Nigeria.

“So, we should never fear to restructure and we should not restructure in fear.’’

 

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0 Comments

  1. Abeni Adebisi

    November 25, 2017 at 10:52 am

    We can’t believe any of these from Ekweremadu, he has at least an interest to protect. I cannot trust anything from his mouth

    • 14one

      November 26, 2017 at 2:38 pm

      ogbanje

  2. Animashaun Ayodeji

    November 25, 2017 at 10:54 am

    The issue of Nigeria’s restructuring is far from over and as it is, I won’t be surprised if the senate makes a u-turn to approve restructuring in 2018, just to keep Buhari in power beyond 2019.

    • Anita Kingsley

      November 25, 2017 at 11:02 am

      This has nothing to do with keeping Buhari in power beyond 2019, it’s just for the best of Nigeria and we have to start believing restructuring is for the good of Nigeria and Nigeria alone

  3. Anita Kingsley

    November 25, 2017 at 10:57 am

    The deputy senate president has spoken well, but surprisingly against his principal Bukola Saraki who sees restructuring as a different thing.

  4. seyi jelili

    November 25, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Restructuring is a forgone issue now, the next thing on point is 2018 general election.

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