Persuade your boss to restructure Nigeria – Prof. Nwabueze urges Osinbajo

Elder statesman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN), has advised Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo to appeal to his principal, President Muhammadu Buhari, to embrace fiscal federalism and regionalism.

Nwabueze said this during the public presentation of his book, titled, ‘Save our Constitutional Democracy from Emasculation’ in Abuja on Monday.

He said Nigeria could not maximise its potential under the current structure of 36 states and an all-powerful Federal Government.

The elder statesman thanked Osinbajo for helping to douse the tension ignited by secessionist groups in the country.

Nwabueze said, “Happily, the tension created by these separatist agitations has been or is being doused by the actions and statements of the acting President which also bears testimony to the fact that dialogue and consultations, not repression, are the appropriate response to citizens’ agitations for justice, equity, equal treatment and self-determination. We commend the acting President.

“But he needs to do more. He needs to persuade his boss, President Buhari, to withdraw his opposition to the restructuring of the federation into six or more self-governing regions or zones, with the powers of the central government drastically reduced, so as to diminish the fierce contest for its control.

“Without such restructuring, the maintenance of the continued corporate existence of the country may be imperilled, and with it, the nurturing of the country into a nation.”

The elder statesman asked the acting President to ensure that a Truth and Reconciliation Commission is set up to address grievances and agitations.

According to him, a similar commission had been set up in some 23 countries of the world including South Africa, Germany and Canada.

Nwabueze said if Nigeria as a country must achieve its goal to remain together as one nation, the time had come for citizens to tell themselves the truth about all the injustices and repressions, all the perversions and subversions that had been or were being perpetrated by the government.

Culled from ThePunch