Restructuring Nigeria is inevitable - Ekweremadu

Restructuring Nigeria is inevitable
- Ekweremadu
- Senator Ike Ekweremadu has added his
voice to the call for restructuring
- Ekweremadu said that there was no other
viable option than restructuring if Nigeria
must reap the blessings and promises of
self-rule
- He, however, noted that restructuring
could only be addressed by adopting a
piecemeal approach rather than seeking to
do everything or so much at a go
Deputy president of the Senate, Senator
Ike Ekweremadu, says restructuring
Nigeria is inevitable for all-inclusive
advantages it will confer on federating
units and enhancement of national
unity.
Ekweremadu stated this at a two-day
Retreat by Southern Senators Forum in
Calabar on Friday, and dismissed the
fear in certain quarters that
restructuring would cause the break-up
of the country.
He explained that restructuring was not
the same as exclusive resource control
as the renewed and aggressive search
for oil around the Lake Chad, Sokoto
and Benue River Basins in recent times
appeared to suggest.
According to him, whereas federating
units will have more control over their
resources in a restructured Nigeria,
there would always be an Equalisation
Fund to ensure that every region thrives
above a reasonable threshold.
“ In fact, oil and gas is among the least
strategic endowments of the nation
today and in the years ahead. Oil is fast
losing its import in the global economy.
“Many of the heavy buyers are not only
finding alternatives to oil, but are also
setting deadlines for the phasing out of
oil-powered engines and automobiles.
“But, what else can cure our fixation on
oil except a return to the original master
plan – the quest for a return to the old
covenant and original foundation laid by
the country’s forefathers.
“This quest is to revive the original
master plan, removing those ugly and
excess weights introduced by successive
military regimes.
“It is an admission that we cannot
continue to do the same thing that has
failed us for more than half a century
and expect a different result.
“If you are driving to Abuja from Ibadan
and you face Lagos, you can only end up
in Badagry or the Atlantic,’’ he said.
The lawmaker pointed out that the
subject of restructuring appeared to
have had divided opinions.
He recalled that Nigeria’s independence
was delayed till 1960 to give room for
more dialogue and ensure that no part
of the country was left behind.
He explained that it was wisdom of the
founding fathers that ensured that the
current map of Nigeria was retained.
Ekweremadu said that there was no
other viable option than restructuring if
Nigeria must reap the blessings and
promises of self-rule.
According to him, it must be done in a
way that every part of the country will
have a true sense of belonging.
He urged Nigerians to embark on more
responsible and patriotic public
discourse and enlightenment to break
down the meaning and processes of
restructuring, saying that the fears
inherent in restructuring needed to be
addressed.
“ I believe that the man from Zamfara is
unlikely to stand against a return to true
federalism if he is made to understand
that such would allow the state to
exploit the abundant gold and granite in
the state.
“The woman from Kogi will not likely
oppose restructuring if she understands
how rich the state is in solid minerals
such as coal, iron ore, ornamental stone,
gemstone, limestone, feldspar,
phosphate, mica, and granite.
“And, how restructuring the country will
give the state constitutional access to
those mineral deposits could transform
Kogi to one of the richest states in the
country.
“The man from the North-East will not
likely oppose decentralised policing if he
understands that his family and business
will be better protected,’’ he said.
The deputy senate president said the
Nigeria Police Force needed to be
decentralised as a significant
component of the envisaged
restructuring exe