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Concerns over Constitutional Amendment, Buhari’s Opinion on Restructuring

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By Jude Opara

Recently, Nigerians were once more jolted when President Muhammadu Buhari was reported to have declared that those calling for Secession and Restructuring are naïve and ignorant of war. The statement is very worrisome given that at the moment the country is going through a turbulent period which has resulted in strident calls by some well meaning Nigerians for the country to be restructured.

President Buhari had reportedly made that statement through the Executive Secretary, Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Alhaji Mohammed Bello Shehu, who represented him at an occasion.
Shehu gave the President’s address as a Special Guest of Honour during the launch of the Kudirat Abiola Sabon Gari, Zaria Peace Foundation which took place at Ahmadu Bello University Hotels, Zaria, Kaduna State.
He also warned secessionists and agitators to cease their agitation, saying Nigeria is a dominant force in West Africa.
According to reports, Buhari said that the nation is not restructuring, adding that most people carrying the subject do not even understand what they are talking about.
“And again, those who are discussing restructuring, my question is what are you going to restructure?” Buhari asked.
“If you ask many Nigerians what are they going to restructure, you will find out that they have nothing to talk about. Some of them have not even studied the 1999 constitution. The 1999 constitution is almost 70 to 80 percent 1979 constitution.”
It is a well known fact that President has over the years spoken to suggest that either he does not understand what it means to restructure Nigeria or he deliberately does not want a change from the status quo.

This concern can also be stretched to suggest that given the disposition of the of 9th National Assembly that has declared that whatever the President wants, he would get the legislative support to have it, the ongoing Constitutional amendment being undertaken by the legislative arm will be another effort in futility because the statement credited to Buhari has surely set the tone for the National Assembly to rubbish the entire exercise.

It is very disturbing when the Commander- in- Chief of the country speaks in the way he was quoted to have spoken because it appears there was deliberate effort to confuse the demand for secession and restructuring with a call for war. Supposing without conceding that the demand for some people for secession could lead to war, how then do we also muddle restructuring with the same war cry?

It is equally unfair to continue to profile some people by no other person than the President when he keeps talking of who has what asset in which part of the country. The last time I checked, there is no law banning Nigerians from owning property in any part of the country. Also, those Nigerians who have the confidence to go to other places other their own states or tribes to build and live are the true Nigerians who truly love the country. Therefore it is unfortunate when people would be blackmailed with property they worked very hard to own just because they are asking for a equity and fairness.
Certainly, the call for restructuring does not in any way suggest that the country would be divided. Those calling for restructuring are rather great patriots who are genuinely concerned about the state of affairs, hence the need to put in place a system that would effectively douse the tension.
The President said; “The other issue is that those who are calling for restructuring and conference on what they call ethnic nationality, if you go to Southern Kaduna, Taraba, who is to represent them? We have different combinations of ethnicities in many states. Even Kano and Kaduna Igbo have properties. The same goes with Yorubas.
“There are Fulani in Port Harcourt. So those calling for separation or restructuring, some of them I will say are very naive or even mischievously dangerous. Those agitating for restructuring are ignorant of war and its consequences because Nigeria is a dominant force in West Africa.
 “There is no government in the world that will cede their authority to the people that are not elected.
“You are telling us to resolve a system and call for an obscure conference to come and discuss how we can move forward as a nation, that can never be done and no country will agree to that.
“So those who are doing that should go back and meet their representatives in the House of Assembly and ask for whatever amendment of the constitution. Due process should be followed.”
Again, it must be stated that the Nigerian people have the right to call for a meeting or dialogue of the ethnic nationalities to discuss the way forward for the country. It is wrong for the President to declare as obscure a conference that will entail the people of Nigeria coming together to decide the way forward for the country.

Many analysts have wondered why it has sudden become alien for President Buhari to come to terms with restructuring when it was one of the cardinal campaign points of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) prior to the 2015 elections.

In fact, in 2014 when Buhari then as a presidential candidate of the APC went to Chatham House in London and among others declared himself as a born-again-democrat. He promised to enthrone True Federalism, devolve power to the states and local governments as well as institute State Police and Community Policing.

Also, the APC administration set up the Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Committee on Restructuring. But surprisingly, years after that committee submitted its report, the government has continued to pretend it does not know that such a committee ever existed, just as the report which must have cost huge sums of public funds is fast gathering dust in a shelve somewhere.

The government is rather lowering its standard by continuously issuing war threats to any dissenting voice because even if the country plunges into another civil war, at the end of the day the resolution will still be on a round table. Therefore why not do the dialogue now instead of the constant resort to war threats?

Frankly speaking, there is no ambiguity about restructuring because everybody clearly understands what it is all about. It is rather unfair when some people will come out to say that those who are talking or restructuring should first restructure themselves.

Restructuring is a way of making every component unit of the country to strive and do certain things on their own and pay an agreed tax or royalty to the centre. It is a sharp departure to the “feeding bottle federalism” of today where states rush to Abuja every month to share revenue. The system is encouraging laziness and corruption because the state governments know that no matter what happens, there will be money to be shared at the end of the month.  

In the past when the country practiced real federal system of government, there were healthy agitations among the then three regions because each of them had some element of autonomy to do certain things on their own. And that was how Nigeria had three of its foremost universities: the University College Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka and the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Successive governments must begin to divest interest in the petroleum deposit in the Niger Delta, because it appears that the real reason for confusing the issue of restructuring is the fear of losing the opportunity of presiding over the revenue there from. But such people have forgotten that there are a lot more the country can get from giving the other units the challenge to dig deep and work out what they have. There is no gainsaying that the spate of insecurity is a direct consequence of the system we are currently running.

One other reason why restructuring or federalism is very apt at the moment is that it will make the government at the centre less attractive. It will engender a lasting peace because people will be as interested in developing their state or region as they want Nigeria to also develop.

POLITICS

I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia

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From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor has called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.

The Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the National party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories.” Kula said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State said it has withdrawn the only case filed by the embattled state chairman of the party, comrade Austin Agada that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
It said the said case has been consequently struck out by Justice T.A. Kume.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Daniel Ihomun,  said this was done in compliance with the directive of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its 146th meeting held on the 20th March, 2024, wherein resolutions targeting peace were made directing all pending cases filed by members of the party in Benue State against the party or concerning the party and its members be withdrawn within 7 days.
Mr. Ihomun in a statement, made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Alyebo Mathew Esq, at the instance of the state chairman, filed a Notice of Withdrawal on the 25th March, 2024, in the only case filed by the chairman that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
The party urged all members affected by the directive to withdraw all matters in court to clear the way for proper reconciliation that will ultimately pave the way for peace in the party.

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POLITICS

Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials

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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among officials of the North Central geopolitical political zone towards the growth of the party in the region.
He noted that the region has consistently remained a stronghold for the PDP since its inception, attributing it to the party’s ideologies and its developmental impact on the citizens at any given opportunity.


Governor Mutfwang made the commendation during a meeting on Wednesday with PDP officials from the North Central, led by the zonal National Vice Chairman, Hon.
Theophilus Dakas Shan, at Plateau House in Abuja the nation’s capital.

While applauding the dedication, patriotism, and steadfast support of the PDP officials in the region for their role in promoting unity and internal democracy in the party reiterated that such dedication will not be forgotten by the party.
Governor Mutfwang through his Director of Press and Public Affairs expressed his gratitude to the zonal officials for their commitment during the 2023 general elections, an effort he said aligned with the party’s principles.
He reiterated that the party’s mission is to govern not for personal gain but for the people’s liberation, voicing his expectation that the PDP will continue to be the people’s party, deserving of significant involvement in its administration.
As the opposition party, the Governor emphasized the need to strive for the governance Nigerians aspire to, stating, “We must offer constructive criticism to the government and ensure the Nigerian people are not shortchanged.”
The Governor announced plans to reform the party into a robust, dependable, and credible political platform that enables Nigerians to run for elections and fulfill the promise of democracy.
The National Vice Chairman of the PDP North Central Zone, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, congratulated Governor Mutfwang on his election and Supreme Court victories.
He pledged full support to his administration, noting that the Governor’s unique position as the sole PDP-elected Governor from the zone will not be taken for granted.
He acknowledged the North Central’s role in electing the National Chairman of the PDP by consensus before the 2023 elections. However, recent political events in Benue State, has set aside the Chairman from office adding that the zone needs to address the matter as a family.
Hon. Shan said plans are underway to hold congresses of the Party and called for unity to ensure that the process is reliable, credible, and universally accepted, thereby minimizing potential litigation.

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POLITICS

FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing efforts of integrating technology and skills into the education sector.The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman who made the appeal while hosting the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englung, on a working visit to the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja, said it was important to leverage Sweden’s technical expertise.

The Minister also said the Federal government is seeking the support of the Swedish government in the development of indigenous languages to aid sound educational development in Nigeria.
He said: “The presence of (Swedish) tech companies in education and training is very important for us because one of the major things this ministry is focusing on now is to bring technology and skills into our education system right from the very early stage of education and we feel it is a very important mechanism tool for learning and teaching.
”And so we will be looking at your experiences to see how we can grow from that because what we want is right from primary school we want our students to be exposed to technology and skills so that at that stage they can grow with it and nurture critical thinking capabilities.“Right now education is not all about just providing training for jobs and skills of today, but preparing them to think about the skills of tomorrow and the best way to do that is by nurturing critical thinking capability right at the early stage.“So we will be leveraging your expertise and experience in order for us to develop our plans and integrate skills and technology into the curriculum at all the levels of our education system in Nigeria.”Mamman who noted that some agreements had been signed between Nigeria and Sweden in the past, however, stressed the need for both countries to deepen bilateral relationships by committing to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in several areas of partnerships.The Swedish envoy had earlier named some Swedish firms in Nigeria engaged in educational and entrepreneurship programmes.Hahn – Englung who expressed Sweden’s readiness to deepen existing relationships, especially in the area of education, noted Sweden’s desire to have more students study in the country’s institutions of higher learning.“We have quite a number of companies especially when it comes to EdTech but then also, we have ideas to see what we can do more together.“We have many Nigerian students going to Sweden every year. They are very competitive students we have noticed but we will like to see that expand more.”

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