THE RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA NEEDS (Part 1) by Yemi Obideyi

Not many are like Nigeria in the global longer of nations. By composition, population, location, and spiritual status, this most populous black territory is comparable to none. It is unique in size, endowment, historical evolution, aptitude and mandate. Whether it is known, acknowledged or not, the role or place of the dark - skinned, is central to global transformation or emancipation. For this reason alone, the Black man and his territory had, over the years suffered great affliction instigated by hands behind the scene. Its populace through history are oppressed, suppressed, incapacitated, pillaged, deceived and denigrated. Its leadership had, over the years, worsened the situation by choosing to dwell in the path of narrow - mindedness, selfishness, dogmatism, short - sightedness and imitativeness. The failure of the leadership to come to terms with the divine mandate and its demands, has resulted in such a potentially blessed continent to strive and live under the yoke of life or line dictated by her enemies. It is therefore not far fetched to see Africans engage in counter - intuitive dispositions even at highly dignified levels. This is where Nigeria has a unique role to play as a front liner. The seemingly intractable problems dotting Nigeria and or the unsavoury situation it has found itself altogether represent a specimen. It is not ordinary and as such calls for extraordinary attention and initiatives.

In other words, Nigeria can no longer choose to be self deluding, piecemeal or talentless as to simply resort to adopting a system of government fathomed for other socio - political climes. Indeed, for 55 years or more, we had employed the most vaunted systems of government in the world (parliamentary, presidential), yet our ethnic groupings are not integrated; discrimination, distrust and mutual suspicion among our people had become worse than it was before political independence in 1960; citizenship is still a call for concern as fellow Nigerians get disenchanted and literally dismembered whenever they move from one region to another within the country. Development of infrastructure is high on deficit just as the nation is now more heavily dependent on other nations for her basic and essential goods and services. Economy is in recession even as the polity is jaundiced. The kind of democracy we run is not only money - gulping, it is both a licence and inducement for corrupt practices, which on their own had ravaged the nation like a devouring plague.






One thing that can be inferred from the foregoing is that a mere allusion or back- stepping to fiscal federalism as being touted in some quarters, cannot in any way deal with or resolve the issues highlighted above. Granting more money, powers or access to state governors would widen and deepen the gulf among various ethnic nationalities and further endanger the chances for nationhood to sprout. It would inadvertently return the nation to the era of strong regional political parties founded, fertilized and watered by ethnic or tribal sensibilities. A weak central government under fiscal federalism would heighten corruption and exacerbate malpractices as no state governor in Nigeria is ever willing to tame the scourge of financial mismanagement let alone reverse the ugly trend. It would, among other things, promote political demagoguery, brigandage, thuggery and banditry. Yes, with former governors who, before leaving office had pronounced themselves retirees of political office hence being entitled to pension therefrom only to turn around to become senators receiving fabulous monthly salary and allowances in the same system.


Again, under the present arrangements, more money to some states had proved to be a leverage for anti - development, monumental corruption and laceration as recorded in the last ten years or more in the Niger - Delta that received additional 13 percent to the monthly federal allocation to states and local governments; a federal ministry dedicated to the Niger Delta; the federal -funded Niger Delta Development Commission plus ancillary financial support from international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the area.






Without mincing words, Nigeria needs a newness



, a clear departure from the path and pattern it had taken over the years. The kind of restructuring Nigeria needs therefore, must be that which can remove, first of all, the ethnic dichotomy and guarantee or entrench national integration; dislodge elitism in the political space by dissolving the barriers created by high monetary requirements in prosecuting electoral candidacy.

The restructuring Nigeria needs is that which would eliminate wastage in government and governance; take out duplication of offices and political appointment across the states.

Going for the targets identified above, naturally imposes on us a responsibility to end the era of self -deceit particularly in constituting government. We must recognise and admit succinctly that the substantial majority of Nigerians are low income earners and as such, any meaningful restructuring must be based on a pattern of representation that can directly include this vast majority in the arms of government. The system must be practically people - oriented in real terms such that an individual can ascend political office basically powered by his integrity, transparency, competence, resourcefulness or ingenuity as against the practice where level of affluence or noxious support or endorsements of a money bag or god father dictate the tune. In effect, the target of the restructuring of Nigeria must seek to revamp the legislature, executive and judicial systems of this nation as a total package.

HOW TO KNOCK OFF ETHNIC DICHOTOMY:

  THE LEGISLATURE

In more definitive terms, Nigeria can achieve national cohesion by having National Regional Legislature in each region or geo - political zone. This Assembly would replace the 5 or 6 States - assembly there are presently in each region. Just one purpose - driven House each in the South South, South East, North East, North West, North Central and South West would adequately take care of the interests of all Nigerians living in the region.
The salient point here is that the Regional Legislature would not be composed on the basis of ethnic groupings or identity but on the Platform of Occupation obtainable or available in each region. In other words, those into crop planting, animal rearing and farm produce would simply represent Agriculture.

Men and women who practise journalism, workers in media, printing and publishing outfits, dealers in their product would constitute the populace in Information. By this framework, all occupations in the country would become the focal point of representation in the legislature even as identifiable in each ministry of the federal government of Nigeria.
Ethnic differences would fizzle out and yet no one is left out as anyone can stand for election to represent what he or she does anywhere in the country. This implies that your profession or legitimate occupation becomes your Constituency and the State or place you practise or operate defines your Region.
In clear terms, Nigeria would have 6 Regional Assemblies in place of 36 State houses of assembly. Everyone  or adult belongs to the 6 by virtue of their businesses, employment or apprenticeship. It does not recognize anyone as Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Hausa, Fulani, Ibibio or a northerner or southerner, rather it is a leveller of tribal walls and cubicles of clannish consciousness as well as an anti dote to ethnic debacles.
From the regional legislature peopled by professionals from all walks of life in each region, certain number would be elected into a single chamber central or National Assembly. Each of them to be elected reflecting the platforms of profession as identifiable under each federal ministry. In effect, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health workers would represent Health; teachers, trainers, dealers in education materials would vote representatives into Education; the same trend holds for all whose daily activities fall under Petroleum, Commerce, Industries, Environment, Housing, Water, Aviation, Sea Transport, Transport, Sports, Power, Finance, Food and Nutrition, Communication, Water Resources etcetera.
This would give Nigeria a technically sound, balanced, composite, cognate and unique legislature. A resourceful and result oriented law making arm would be put in place without patronizing party henchmen or godfathers. Candidates would be freed from political ambushment or traps often created by high monetary requirements usually imposed by party system for primaries and general electioneering processes. 

Besides, this pattern of democracy or Political ideology, I refer to as LIBERTOCRACY, decimates corruption from the roots. Your primary constituency is easily identifiable, a terrain you are familiar with and where your competence, capability and character are readily ascertained or assessable. You cannot bribe your colleagues to represent their interest: They know your income and career path, your dedication, uprightness and sense of duty.
Corruption is ensconced from this pattern in a number of ways. For one, the delineation of constituencies by professional leaning, cuts off the hitherto overbearing influence of money bags and political demagogues. For instance, a man who is not an insurance practitioner, no matter how wealthy, can not decide for insurers who should represent them. Again, campaign does not require huge resources to carry out because the voters are  an inclusive populace with whom the candidate interact on daily or weekly basis. Thirdly, no one can represent what he or she knows nothing about and as such, the old practice of lobbying for juicy positions or committees in the legislature is preemptively eliminated.... (Detail of these are contained in Libertocracy - Vision of the New Nigeria, a book by this author).