Nigerian politicians are making a very grave mistake by putting the cart before the horse.
(Q) What do you mean by that?
(A) Every government in the world or chancery dealing with Nigeria knows that the country is facing a fast-deteriorating national security situation, which, if not arrested, would lead to catastrophic consequences. Of course elections are inevitable in 2019, but political genius would have found a fundamental way to stabilize the security situation before going into elections.
(Q) How?
(A) Any sizable business faced with the problems Nigeria has declined to grapple with, over decades now, would have long restructured. It would have been regarded as the only way to save the business.
(Q) But How would Nigeria restructure?
(A) Thank God – a six-zone orientation has endured. The genius would be to build on it quickly and not, so to say, reinvent the wheel.
(Q) Can you be more precise?
(A) You restructure by devolving political functions, financial provisions, resource control and general security from the federal apparatus to the zones.
(Q) Are the states abolished?
(A) No, The states deal with a subset of the national problem. The states remain. But the zones are strengthened.
(Q) Is the centre weakened
(A) No – and that is the paradox – the federal government becomes more relevant, instead of dying under the weight of an unwieldy baggage of unresolvable problems.
(Q) Who will bell the cat?
(A) Anyone can. There are still statesmen in the country. For instance- Bola Tinubu can invite a small representative group to meet. They will come. Fasoranti or Afenifere, John Nwodo or Ohaneze can also do so. The existential issue transcends party, group, or religious affiliation.
(Q) What would the group do?
(A) Quickly provide an outline programme for immediate restructuring.
(Q) In the absence of that?
(A) The opposition should turn itself into a truly committed party for restructuring?
