These are challenging times for Nigeria and its leaders- elected and appointed.
At the receiving end of this multi-various challenges which dates back to decades of independence and mis-governance is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Since he came into office May 29, 2023 as the 16th President of the Federal Republic, he has had to face various challenges chief among which is the nation’s economy, security issues and clamour for Restructuring of the country.
It is expedient to noted that the clamour for a new constitution and structure for the country actually received much impetus with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a businessman and philanthropist who has build bridges across the country before the election and consequent annulment.
However, the point has to be made that the present activation of clamour for restructuring reared its head again after the nationwide protests.
The Protests exposed the underbelly of the nation’s foundational and structural problems.
Those who wanted a new Restructured Nigeria used the clamour for regime change by some protesters from the North who not only clamour for regime change but displaying Russian flag.
This action by the protesters in the most populous part of the North like Kano and Kaduna-its political capital, was viewed as a silent clamour by some groups in the North to redirect the country along the path of their brothers in Niger, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso who effected regime change through military rule and also took steps to end their centuries old romance and colonialism by the French.
For the enlightened and highly political in the South, especially the South West whose son is in power, it was seen as a sign that the North is in a hurry to have power back just a year after their son, Muhammadu Buhari, left the office after eight years rule.
But the immediate cause of today’s fresh impetus by the Northern and Southern parts of the country was the acceptance in the public for the first time by President Bola Tinubu to restructure the country after he has fixed the Economy.
He spoke while responding to the call by the Patriot Committee led by elder statesman, Emeka Anyaoku who led some other members of the group to the seat of Power-Aso Rock.
The Patriots founded over two decades ago by late constitutional lawyer, Chief Rotimi Williams, to clamour for a restructured country.
It was a fallout of the frustrations occasioned by civil uprising which arose out of the widespread protests that greeted the June 12 election annulment.
Thus, for the North, the decision to meet last week Thursday in Kaduna, its political headquarters, is seen as a proactive way of responding to the moves by both Tinubu and those who believe in the Restructuring agenda and the South which had been at the forefront.
It was a calculated move to get prepared and probably upset whatever goal the President may have.
It is instructive that as usual the attendance at the meeting cuts across political divide that involves both the retired political and military class and those still active in politics.
It is a clear message to the rest of the country that the North is not ready to allow itself to be split along the political divide.
It was also a deliberate attempt to re-invoke the One North mantra of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, former Premier of defunct Northern region who held the region firmly in his group until death do him part during the 1966 coup which terminated the first republic and altered till date the political landscape of the country.
Though the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting stated clearly that it was held to discuss the ever increasing rate of insecurity, sky rocketing cost of living, destitution and unemployment,
It is clear from the tone of the communiqué that the issues raised had been with us throughout the eight year period of President Muhammadu Buhari, but which never received much seriousness and condemnation of the regions political elite as it is being done now.
It is also clear from the one of the items of the communiqué that the meeting was more of an attempt to unite the North behind same political strategy of the North against the rest of Nigeria.
It is an indication that the interests of the North political region is perceived to be likely more affected by the Restructuring and attendant re- configuration of the Nigerian nation.
It is also instructive that the communiqué pointedly addressed the perceived believe by the South of the reluctance of the region to embrace Restructuring.
That it stated in black and white its resolve to be, ‘ready to consider ALL proposals on constitution review that may be put on the table now or in the near future’ , connotes a strong Message to the rest of Nigeria.
It is clear from the statement that the region is ready for any option that proponents of need to revisit the configuration of the country may put forward.
In other words, the North has commenced early discussions, deliberations and mobilisation of the region for a proposed constitutional conference likely to be initiated by President Tinubu.
That the communiqué stated its readiness to confront and discuss any structural change that may be tabled at any such conference means that it is ready- if it has not done so already considering its sophisticated politics, to navigate the political landscape.
It is apparent that the region is ready to deploy all its strengths to counter any constitutional move seen as against its interests.
That the communiqué describes the impression “that the North was shy, afraid or averse to any such proposal is false and misguided and that if and when the occasion arise, the North will surely use whatever is available to it in to pursuit of its interests.’ is a statement that should not be taken With a pinch of salt.
In the same vein, that the leaders from the region -which assemblage cuts across the elite and political divide, are telling proponents of restructuring from the southern parts of the country that they have done their home work, consider ALL options to the national question and are ready for any eventuality is loaded.
This declaration which hardly came out throughout the period the North had been in power, is an indication that the North contrary to what Southerners believe, are more than prepared for any eventuality that may befall the nation.
It is an understatement to say that Nigeria is a nation which had been moving from one crisis of nation building to the other since the attainment of independence in 1960.
But the point also has to be made that it is clear that as the North seems to have been united on their agenda for a future Nigeria, it is apparent that this is a challenge for the South which had never spoken with one voice considering its different political ideology.
Since the First Republic days, the South East had always preferred Unitary system considering the attitude of the late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe to issues of Federalism.
This attitude was copied by the late General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi Who abolished the regions by the Unification Decree of 1966 and consequent counter coup of July 29,1966 which ousted him from power.
Ironically, the succeeding military governments have continued to use Unitary system to rule the country.
With the clamour for true federalism by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the then Western region, South West appears to distinguish itself among the different political ideologies adopted the three dominant regions in the country.
In the same vein, the political leaders of the South- South geo -political zone had parted ways with the South East especially because of its experience during the Biafra war as the later made an attempt to annex their territory in the new republic.
The fact that the South South region till date is reluctance to release the abandoned properties to the indigenes of the South East who left for Biafra during the region had been another sore point in their relationship and inability to pursue same political ideology.
Till date, the issue of abandoned property remains a sore point in the relationship with the South East region.
What is more, the grouping of the country into six geo -political zones by the government of the late General Sani Abacha introduced a new dimension of identity.
Though, it is not structurally and administratively recognised, the six geopolitical zones is acknowledged for sake of dispensation of positions in the 1999 constitution.
Since the Anyaoku group is asking for an elected constituent assembly from all the thirty six states of the country, then it means that there must be a consensus by the assembly on what form the Restructuring will be.
This also brings up the issue of numbers.
As things stand today, the North holds the ace as it has advantage of figure over the South with its nineteen state’s while the South which is yet to jointly articulate any position, has seventeen states.
Since we are in the era of politics, amending the constitution calls for concessions and unity which must cut across the broad spectrum of the political divides.
For the South to have a common front like the North, the different tendencies in the South must come together pushing aside political differences beyond the meeting of Southern Governors Forum to achieve the goal.
Since the Southern Governors Forum is basically for development and Regional Cooperation, could they sink their differences and fight a common cause on the Nigeria Project.
The Northern elite and political umbrella body, the ACF having succeeded in forging a common front may extend such to the election of the proposed constituent assembly which would write a new constitution for the country.
In this case, the issue of numbers will still play a major role.
Another point of convergence is the National assembly that will ratify the proposed new constituent. That is if the issue of sovereignty or legality of the proposed Constituent assembly is not contested by the existing National assembly.
This also could be an ace by the North to put a stumbling block or reject any far reaching proposals sent to it by the assembly not against the interest of the region.
Since the assembly as presently constituted has majority from the North, concessions has to be made by North and South Representatives of both Chambers of the national assembly.
Another likely contentious issue is the proposals by different quarters for reduction of cost of governance.
Since the present beneficiaries are not by any stretch of imagination expected to support the new move, only strong concessions by people of like minds in the proposed constituent assembly and across the broad spectrum of the country could ensure legislation to prune down cost of governance.
As for President Tinubu, implementing the recommendations of the Steve Orosanye committee on stream-lining of government agencies and department may be a shot cut to reducing cost of governance.
This itself requires strong political will since the agencies has more executives from the North than other parts of the country.
Tinubu needs all the strong will to do the needful as taking a decision in merging the Agencies will be an avenue for realigning the bureaucracy to the dictates of the times.
No matter when Tinubu decides to kick- start the movement towards fiscal federalism, the fact remains that the transition won’t be an easy journey given the advantaged position enjoyed by the North over the years which tokenism offered by series of constitutional amendments has not addressed.
The Nation waits.
