It’s time to restructure Nigeria -Igwesi

Former member of the House of Representatives, U.S.A. Igwesi has said that the federal government should as a matter of urgency mandate the Attorney General and minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami to articulate all the views on restructuring including matters arising from the 2014 National Conference and forward them as executive bill to the National Assembly. Just recently, a court of Law outlawed IPOB and declared it a terrorist organization. What is your reaction? The activities of IPOB are just like those of other known ethnic agitators in Nigeria but under Nnamdi Kanu, I think seriously speaking, they went too far. But if you look at it, what they did cannot be said to be different from what other ethnic agitators in Nigeria have done. IPOB does not even bear arms like other ethnic agitators except specifically at the crescendo of their madness that attracted the attention of the federal government. I am from the Eastern part of Nigeria. I have never heard of person or persons who were attacked or molested by IPOB in any form except their recent outbursts and actions which I believe were actually uncalled for. The aspect of parading uniformed army, regardless of the guise and using uncivilized and erratic languages should be discouraged and seen as a joke carried too far. They may have genuine intentions as regards what we all know about the marginalisation of the Igbo in the scheme of affairs of the nation, but the method used by Kanu and his group was untamed, unnecessary and wild, and it gave the government the opportunity to use a sledge hammer to kill an ant. I therefore call on the federal government to stand up to the challenges of democratic leadership which was founded on the philosophy of consultation and continued conversation. People need to be engaged in round table to sort out naughty issues. The government should never close the windows of discussion and conversation, because agitations are necessary in any polity and society. We have to cross our fingers to see how the issue will play out in various courts of law, especially now that the proscription order has been gazetted. What are your views on the issue of Restructuring? Restructuring as the word suggests, is an acceptance of the fact that there is an existing structure in place that needs to be tinkered with. You can choose to restructure a house based on the fact that the present structure of the house was no longer fashionable, thereby demolishing an aspect of the house and introducing newer things to make the house attractive and trending, same to a country, state and society. Restructuring suggests that there was a structure in place but may not be working properly to the admiration of the people and they feel there is need to tamper with the structure to enable it work effectively. The whole idea is to address those challenges that had not allowed it to work. It is as simple as that. Some Nigerians feel that the present ‘feeding bottle economy’ should be discouraged to allow the federating units to take care of their resources and pay royalty to the federal government. Others believe the federal government is over saturated with powers and they are asking for power devolution, to strengthen the federating units and ensure that democracy dividends get to the grassroots. Others are calling for abolition of the present bi-camera legislature of our parliament to be replaced by a unicameral structure that will operate on the part time basis based on the cost effectiveness of running a dual parliament in the centre. Many are equally calling for state police to guarantee adequate community policing. So, it will sound procrastinating for any responsible government not to yield to critical issues like these. This challenge is indeed the true test of quality leadership. The federal government should as a matter of urgency mandate the Attorney General and minister for Justice to articulate all these views including matters arising from the 2014 National Conference and forward them as an executive bill to the National Assembly. After the debate on these issues and subsequent conference committees, they can now pick those ones that will go through constitutional amendment and those to be strengthened administratively.

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