Enemies By Design: How The US And USSR Shaped Each Other's Identity

By Polycarp Onwubiko

In a groundbreaking press interview by The Guardian on Sunday, December 10, 2023, with the caption "Restructuring Necessary for Sustainability of Nigeria," Mr. Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN), covered the opinions of the Yoruba intelligentsia. 

This reaffirms the earlier stance of the region on the imperative need to restructure the lopsided federation and reinvent realistic principles of a federal system of government, as practiced in the First Republic.

Here is the mind-blowing expose of this rare gem in the corporate affairs of Nigeria:

"Under the present structure, Nigeria will struggle to develop if it is not restructured. Everything needed for restructuring has been extensively discussed over the years. What we need to do is go back and clear up those recommendations and start addressing the low-hanging fruits among the issues.

"For instance, we can tackle the issue of security by decentralizing the Police Force instead of the centralized one that we have now—I mean State Police. State Police has become imperative. Allow the States to handle all roads.

"Let's begin a new revenue-sharing formula and devolve more funds to the states. For restructuring, we don't need the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. After all, its purpose is just to enhance development. The system we are practicing now is actually entrenching poverty.

"I can't understand why people are opposed to restructuring. What we are talking about is the survival and viability of Nigeria. If we do nothing about restructuring, only God knows what will happen in this country in the next ten years. Nigeria at this moment is not working as it should.

"The 1999 Constitution should be thrown into the dustbin. Those who are saying change the constitution and those saying 'restructuring' are essentially saying the same thing.

"Those clamoring for restructuring are not thinking about dismembering Nigeria. I will be happy and excited if the president lives up to his antecedents and kick starts the process of restructuring the country."

Comment:

I am delighted that this groundbreaking press interview aligns with my book titled "People's Constitution: Fiscal Federalism and Structural Equalization in Nigeria (2022)," published by Amazon internet publishers via https.www.amazon.uk.com.

 

Polycarp Onwubiko, a public policy analyst.