Restructuring Nigeria: Be careful what you wish for, or how you demand for it

The Nigerian press has always deceived itself that it sets the “agenda” as the patriotic and progressive fourth-estate of the realm; the other three “estates”, defined differently over time depending on the socio-political structures of the various societies, are now generally assumed to be the legislature, the executive (including functionaries and those politicians in opposition), […]

The Nigerian press has always deceived itself that it sets the “agenda” as the patriotic and progressive fourth-estate of the realm; the other three “estates”, defined differently over time depending on the socio-political structures of the various societies, are now generally assumed to be the legislature, the executive (including functionaries and those politicians in opposition), and a supposedly neutral judiciary. If you believe that medieval myth you might as well accept that the world is flat, and has a wall around it. The press is owned lock, stock and barrel, and not by any nebulous body called the “people” or the “masses” but by the shareholders of the companies that set them up. 

One example of the bias of this press is the dominant and different response to two statements by the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and Professor of Law. When it was reported that he rejected Federal Character Principle in appointment to public office, a statement which he subsequently clarified, not many papers gave it any importance, though it would have gone against our Constitution. Compare that to the orchestrated outrage that followed his remarks, he strongly supports states having more resources, and having state police, he is opposed to going back to the old regions. He was accused of betrayal, though of what exactly is never made explicit. What he did say however, which was played down by the press was this: “Dividing Nigeria, going back to regions and all those kind of things, I do not believe that at all…(And) if there are people who believe that we must structure ourselves again along ethnic lines I don’t accept that that is the right way to go.” You would think that he was denouncing God and not just moving away from “group-think”.

Which is why the orchestrated salvo on “restructuring” is not going far just as it won’t go away. The dominant narrative is that Nigeria was badly (some even say selfishly) structured to favour the North which, in turn, used its dominance to lord it over all the other parts, marginalising them and depriving them of their rightful share of the commonwealth. The bête-noire is some hegemonic group termed Hausa-Fulani Muslims which has not only stolen or squandered the oil wealth given by God to the Niger-Delta, but, according to some on the lunatic fringe, is now out to Islamise the country, and turn others into second-class citizens. The proposed solution is something called “true federalism” by which they generally mean a fiscal arrangement where each state, ethnic enclave or region keeps its’ revenue and gives a bit to the centre. The preferred arrangement being pushed is a return to the former regions and a reduction in the number of states so as to encourage each “federating unit” to be self-reliant. While the versions may differ slightly, depending on their interests or “endowment” the thrust remain something similar to this. This is what we get daily from the mainstream media owned and control by these sectional interests and pushed as “progressive” and rational discourse. The north is portrayed as the stumbling block to this noble endeavour, afraid it may lose out. There are many who have gone beyond this illiterate caricature, thank God.

Curiously enough there seems to be an unstated rejection of the National Assembly as well as our Constitution as somehow unsuitable for this needed “restructuring”, preferring instead some “ethnic conference” or executive fiat. Also conveniently forgotten is the fact that all the state and local government creation-exercises were actually attempts at fostering greater unity, self-governance and fairness, and many (not just Northerners) are likely to oppose any return to fewer state or to the old regions. Nor is anyone remembering that Ironsi’s Unitary Decree was the boldest attempt at ending our federal arrangements.

Even if we ignore laid down provisions for changing our polity and its fiscal arrangements, enshrined in a Constitution which all our elected representatives have sworn to uphold, and instead decide to gamble with the territorial integrity of our nation, we owe it a duty to be clear what we mean it, and how to achieve it peacefully.

Castigating others, denigrating and cheapening their contribution to developing the nation, feeding it and keeping it largely safe, and finding uncomplimentary labels for them whenever some elite want a bigger share of the cake, is really disingenuous. It would not take us far. We are all victims of the same rapaciously kleptocratic elites, from every part of this nation, and there is no final restructuring that would solve this. As Osinbajo said, corruption has federal character and the only solution is good governance.

Nor is there a way out of the pressing imperatives of developing each and every part of this country by refocusing on (non-colonial) agriculture, solid minerals, electricity, railways, education, anchored on modern science, technology and effective management.  Living together peacefully, and prospering together, means continuous dialogue as well as honest “give and take”. Unilaterally pushing an ill-thought out and self-serving restructuring agenda may lead to unforeseen and unpleasant back-lash from those sections that see themselves as the losers. By all means give more to the states and local governments, and even more to states where natural resources are extracted from. Have state police and even local government ones. Demand for fairness and greater self-actualisation but not in an uncouth, belligerent and combative manner. Nobody has a monopoly of threats or abusive language no matter what some idiotic denizens of the Nigerian social media scene, who specialise in insulting people from other sections of the country, may think.

Real statesmen and women should be cautious least they open a Pandora’s box. According to Greek mythology, Pandora was given a box (a jar actually) which contained all the evils of the world. Out of curiosity, she opened the jar, and all the evils flew out, taunting her as they escape. When she looked inside all that remained was “Hope”. In other words, while it is totally understandable and even desirable to periodically reassess how we agree to live together we should not force others to do it “our way” because the negative consequences could be far-reaching and detrimental. Pushed to the wall, there is every possibility that some may chose -God forbid- to go their own way. The arrogant assumption that the north is helpless is so pathetically ridiculous that it deserves to be ignored. 

In Nollywood movies the Northerner is simply a security man, or an “Alhaji” helping his more enlightened and enterprising betters to secure a contract from “Abuja”.  It is at least better than the social media where only those who have developed a thick mental-armour against daily insults and abuses dare to tread. Additionally, let us not forget that this nation, along with its oil and gas installations, its power plants, ports, bridges, road networks and all infrastructure were built with the contribution of all of us. Just because geography and the logic of colonial agriculture has brought more development to some areas than to others does not give anyone the right to start calling some areas non-viable. We must respect each other even as we differ on how we live together.