Former
Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), has lent his voice to the now
strident call for the restructuring of the country to achieve true federalism,
devolution
of power and creation of state police.
According to
him, the Nigerian federation, as currently structured, is in need of reforms
that will emphasise the individual strength and advantages of the component
units so that governments can really work to improve the lives of Nigerians.
Babangida, a
major player in the country’s power politics, was involved in all the major
putsches that threw up military regimes from 1976 . He ruled the country
maximally between August 27, 1985 and August 26, 1993 after annulling the June
12 presidential election of that year that was reputed to be the freest and
fairest in the nation’s history.
He gave the
advice on restructuring in his Eid-el-Fitri message to Muslims yesterday. With
this call coming from the former military leader who undoubtedly is one of
those considered as conservatives in their sticking to the status quo, which
they in fact helped to foist on the country, the demand for true federalism is
gaining traction.
As a soldier
during the civil war and one of those who held the country together and who
even charted a course of democracy, even though not generally seen as a sincere
venture, Babangida is a strong voice whose call is capable of drawing out other
ex-military chiefs to take a stand in the ongoing debate.
While
seeking a departure from the norm and calling for a reform that will put the
country on the same pedestal with advanced democracies, he said: “If we have
repeatedly done certain things and not getting the desired results, we need to
change tactics and approach, and renew our commitment. It is our collective
responsibilities to engender a reform that would be realistic and in sync with
modern best practices.
“For
example, restructuring has become a national appeal as we speak, whose time has
come. I will strongly advocate devolution of powers to the extent that more
responsibilities be given to the states while the Federal Government is vested
with the responsibility to oversee our foreign policy, defence, and economy.
“Even the
idea of having federal roads in towns and cities has become outdated and
urgently needs revisiting. That means we need to tinker with our constitution
to accommodate new thoughts that will strengthen our nationality.
“Restructuring
and devolution of powers will certainly not provide all the answers to our
developmental challenges; it will help to reposition our mindset as we generate
new ideas and initiatives that would make our union worthwhile.
“The talk to
have the country restructured means that Nigerians are agreed on our unity in
diversity; but that we should strengthen our structures to make the union more
functional based on our comparative advantages.
“Added to
this desire is the need to commence the process of having state police across
the federation. This idea was contained in my manifesto in 2010 when I
attempted to contest the presidential elections.
“The initial
fear that state governors will misuse the officers and men of the state police
has become increasingly eliminated with renewed vigour in citizens’
participation in, and confidence to interrogate power.
“We cannot
be detained by those fears and allow civilisation to leave us behind. We must
as a people with one destiny and common agenda take decisions for the sake of
posterity in our shared commitment to launch our country on the path of
development and growth.
“Policing
has become so sophisticated that we cannot continue to operate our old methods
and expect different results. I also want to appeal to the Nigeria media to be
more circumspect in their news reportage.”
Until now,
the lone voice from the northern part of the country for restructuring has been
that of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. Most leaders from the region have
often strongly condemned the call for restructuring. They see it as an attempt
that would threaten the unity of the country.
According to Guardian ; It is in
this vein that President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently opposed the 2014
conference report that recommends the restructuring of the country.
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