RESTRUCTURING: Let’s renegotiate Nigeria —Obasanjo

Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Friday, said it is high time Nigeria is re-negotiated to accommodate the cries of various ethnic groups that make up the country.

To Obasanjo, the nation must continue to discuss its unity and give listening ear to the complaints of all ethnic groups.

This, according to him, will engender a sense of belonging to all ethnicities and encourage them to effectively participate in socio-economic discussions and nation-building.

There has been growing agitations from varied ethnic nationalities, especially the call for outright restructuring of the polity. In fact, a window of opportunity provided; by the 2014 National Conference was missed as the then President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan failed to implement the confab report.

The former President, who participated in the 7th convocation lecture of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, posited that such periodic discussion will provide opportunity for all stakeholders to air their views, grievances and possibly provide superior arguments, solutions or ideas that could positively challenge the existing practices.

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Also, the guest lecturer, who is the Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Prof. Eghosa Osaghe, spoke on the topic, “Restructuring and True Federalism: Nigeria in Perspective”.

According to him, federal system of government practiced in Nigeria entails more deliberate arrangements that require intricate deals, trade-offs and reciprocities to build and sustain.

He added: “Secondly, the federal systems are delicate and difficult to manage. This was because their success cannot be guaranteed or taken for granted. Research confirmed that the number of failed federal systems outnumbered the successful ones.

“Restructuring represents a continuous correction, adjustment, and reconfiguration process by which federal system works and reworks its instrumentalities; to guarantee success and efficiencies of federalism.”

Osaghe insisted that the federal instrumentalities of governance are expected to respond to changing dynamics, demands and stimuli, which change in consonance with changing imperatives.

Meanwhile, NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Uba Adamu, congratulated the erstwhile President and other graduands for the successful completion of their academic programmes and urged them to serve as good ambassadors of the school.

The VC was particularly impressed that Obasanjo, after serving as military and civilian head of state, enrolled and diligently completed doctorate degree programme in spite of his busy schedules.

“It was an indication that no one is too old to pursue education and knowledge. It is also an encouragement for others to disregard and trash the idea of age, challenges and diligently pursue education for self-improvement.

NOUN Registrar, Felix Edoka, however announced that Obasanjo, and 14, 771 other graduands including two prison inmates from Enugu prison, have been found worthy in character and learning to be awarded first and doctorate degrees at the 7th NOUN convocation ceremony scheduled to hold on Saturday.

By Ajansii Mgbo….

 

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