South West governors are changing the narrative. It’s a worthy attempt. They are coming to terms with the stark reality of restructuring. They can’t do otherwise. The risk is high.
The tide of events won’t permit them to stay aloof any longer. Nor allow them to remain indifferent. These times are not friendly. Running speedily against them.
Their Lagos meeting on Monday was an apt pointer to that. They are shedding the burden of silence. They’re being forced out of their shells. They feared being swept away by the strong tidal wave of restructuring.
This is becoming stronger by the second. Perhaps for the first time in very recent times. They elected to identify with their electorate. Do they have a viable choice?
All the same, for whatever it is worth. It’s highly commendable. We encourage and challenge them to do more. They can, if they dare.
That adoption of “Ise Wa Fun Ile Wa” as Yoruba anthem is a masterstroke. It’s a killer blow. It sends out a serious signal. And the obvious message won’t be lost on anybody. It’s clear enough.
Label it any tag. Deride it to your peril. Christen it with disdain. We call it restructuring with uncommon pride. That’s what it is. That’s where we’re heading. It is our ultimate. And there is no stopping us.
The governors are aligning with Rotimi Akeredolu even in death. He was the immediate past governor of Ondo State. And he was a forthright man. They are keeping his spirit vividly alive.
That is a fine way to keep tabs on Aketi’s ideas. It is the ideal thing to do. If he were to be alive! He would have thrown himself into the project with all his heart. Without caring a hoot.
They didn’t rest on their oars. Neither did they stop at that. It would not be good enough. They raised the bar by being firm and unwavering on state police.
The governors are buying into Dr. Dapo Fapohunda’s inspiration. For a fact, he wasn’t doing undercover job. He was not on espionage. He has zero tolerance for undercover work.
He was not doing anybody’s bidding. No, not a hatchet job. Not even discreetly. Rather, Fapohunda is driven by a vision and mission. His couldn’t have been illusion, delusion or hallucination. He is cut for none of these.
Conversely, he is fired by nationalism. And propelled by the genuine patriotism in him. Understandably, that makes him restive and restless. For good reasons!
Fapohunda is Secretary General, Eminent Elders’ Forum (EEF). He actually started his push for restructuring in 2017. And there’s no going back, not even in the farthest future. It won’t be an abandoned project. Not in his lifetime or thereafter.
He gave renewed life to restructuring with his bill: “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Every letter in that document means well for our wellbeing.
And there is a “dire” consequence for his audacity. Unto himself he attracted friends and foes. Hailers and wailers alike. He would not cave in. He steadfastly forges ahead. Bracing all the odds.
For him, restructuring is the finality. He persists on restructuring. He emphatically told Channels’ Sunrise Daily: “I proposed this bill because the country is facing a severe crisis. My goal is to find a way to reorganise the system in a highly effective and efficient way.
“It seeks to replace the existing three-tiers structure (federal, state and local government) with a more streamlined two-tier framework consisting of federal and regional governments.”
Fapohunda is clear in his mind: “This new structure would grant the regional tier the liberty to configure its own governance and select delegates, effectively eliminating the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
Not only that: “This bill tackles issues that have been overlooked until now. In a federal system like ours, there should be two separate structures, each with its own clear constitution.
“We currently have a single constitution that covers everything, which is not the norm in other countries. We are a diverse nation and our differences are not adequately acknowledged or addressed in our current approach.”
He said the bill was motivated by the need to address “issues of inefficiency, corruption and inequality in the current system.” Who would not agree?
His next move: “To submit his proposal to President Bola Tinubu, for onward submission to the National Assembly as an executive bill.” He plans to do that soonest.
Since the wailers still wail on. They refuse to be persuaded or comforted. They need words of wisdom. Then, we have to call in the big masquerade.
Oba Olu Falae is Oluabo of Ilu-Abo, Akure North Local Government, Ondo State. He has seen it all. He was Managing Director, Nigerian Merchant Bank (NMB), 1981; Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), 1986. He ended as Minister of Finance in 1990. In 1999, he flew the presidential flag of Alliance for Democracy (AD).
He was in his usual best element here. He told the doubters what restructuring is all about. Nothing did he leave out or hide. He was factual, honest and patriotic.
Arguably, his is the most profound meaning of our own brand of restructuring. It is down-to-earth. It’s simple but explicit. It leaves no room for doubts. No ambiguity in any form possible.
He succinctly demonstrated the beauty of democracy in restructuring. This has been in the public sphere long before now. Those still feigning confusion and ignorance about restructuring should study this. They would be eternally glad they did.
Oba Falae was elected Leader, Yoruba Delegation, National Constitution Conference, 2014. His tutorial: “What we mean by restructuring is going back to the Independence Constitution, which our leaders negotiated with the British between 1957 and 1959. It was on that basis that the three regions agreed to go to independence as one united country. It was a negotiated constitution.”
Not imposed, not forced down our throats: “If the three regions were not able to agree, there would not have been one united independent Nigeria. But because the three regions at that time negotiated and agreed to package a constitution, that is why they agreed to go to independence together.” As simple as that!
Then the unexpected happened. Things fell apart. Till date, the centre cannot hold: “When the military came in 1966 and threw away the constitution, they threw away the negotiated agreement among the three regions, which was the foundation of a united Nigeria.” Sad!
Its telling implication: “The military did not only throw away the constitution but a political consensus negotiated and agreed by our leaders of the three regions in those days. When we say restructuring now, we are saying let us go back substantially to that constitution which gave considerable autonomy to the regions.”
He simplified it for the fuming, doubting Thomases: “For example, each region at that time collected its revenue and contributed the agreed proportion to the centre. But when the military came, they turned it round and took everything to the centre. That could not have been accepted by Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe or Obafemi Awolowo.”
Never! Those patriots would not agree to such absurdity. Unfortunately: “This constitution we are using was made by late Gen. Sani Abacha and the military. And Abacha came from only one part of Nigeria.
“So he wrote a constitution that favoured his own part of Nigeria. Let us restructure and go back to what all of us agreed before. That is the meaning of restructuring.”
Oba Falae knew some would still pretend not to understand. He broke it down further: “The regions used to be federating units but, in today’s Nigeria, they would now be called federal regions because states have been created in the regions.
“In the West, you now have federation of Yoruba states, which would belong to the Nigerian union at the centre. It is not like the region of old with all the powers. No. It is now going to be a coordinator of the states in the zone.”
He insists: “That is what we mean by restructuring. And the regions would have a considerable autonomy as they used to have. For example, for the younger people, they may not know that every region then had its own constitution. There were four constitutions at independence: Federal, Western, Eastern and Northern.
“We must go back to the negotiated constitution, which gave considerable autonomy to the regions, so that they can compete in a healthy manner.”
Let those who want to know be enlightened. And the ones who opt to pretend dwell in utter ignorance. They will forever grope in total darkness. Wanderers they are and will ever remain. They will continue to meander ceaselessly.
But we that choose understanding. Wisdom and knowledge will also be added unto us. The holy book confirms it: Wisdom is the proper application of knowledge. Gbam!
Restructuring will not depart from our mouths. No, not now that it is booting. It’s on our minds. We will meditate on it day and night.
We refuse to let go. We hold on to it. It is our chosen life. Our peace rests squarely on it. We’ve dusted every file. We have opened all books.
We dug even deepest. We burnt midnight and mid-day candles. We are yet to find an operable alternative. We have nightmares and “daymares.” We still have not come across a doable option as restructuring.
Still! We’re not tired singing its praises to high heavens. We won’t relent extolling its virtues to whoever cares to listen. Restructuring is our singsong. It’s the song to sing. Its melody is pleasant, sweet to our ears.
We’re happy it is booting the way we want it to boot. Doubters will hate themselves for this. Even if they hate us too. We stubbornly care less whose ox is gored. Or brutally bruised.
It’s their choice, they chose a heavy cross. Let them carry it. Ours is exceptionally light. We are proud to carry our restructuring cross. It’s the best thing to do. For it is the choice of our life.
The reason we stoutly stick to our guns: Restructuring is it! So? Beat the drum of restructuring. Make it loud and clear. The loudest, the merriest!