Photo credit: intervention
People have said a lot about Nigeria needing to be restructured.
Yes, I agree so.
However, where should we start?
Personally, I believe we should start from the thought process. In other words, we should begin from the group pedestal.
By this, I mean we should first think of ourselves as human beings born into this world with all the basic human rights.
Then we could start thinking of ourselves as Africans, poised to defend our race.
Next step is to think of ourselves as Nigerians occupying the same nation state. We should be ready to defend the sanctity of our nation against any external aggression. Indeed, we should submit our freedoms in exchange for protection by the Nigerian state.
We may then go further to being recognised as Hausa, Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Efik, Calabar, Ijaw, Ibibio, etc.
We may even care to be divided into Ijebu, Demo, Ibadan, Ogoja, Kano, Or on, Nnewi, Onitsha, etc We may even divide ourselves into our various villages, streets, compounds, and families.
The most important thing is to think of each other first as human beings. We should then think of ourselves as Nigerians. Lastly, we may then put on our ethnic garments. That is the only way to have peace.
We also, need to settle the issue of a sense of belonging. Should it be through indigeneity or citizenship?Should we have both?
I believe all of us are strangers wherever we may be.
The only difference is the time we came to occupy the place. If people have been living in a particular place say, for two calendar years, and they have been performing all the duties of good citizens, then they should have the right to enjoy all the rights of citizens.
Shall we now go into the structure of the state? It is my candid opinion that the federal government should shed most of its powers, particularly resource control.
In other words, I would prefer that Nigeria should practice fiscal federalism. Every state should be in a position to control its resources.
The states should be giving a percentage of their earnings to the center, not the other way round.
The states will surely be in a form of healthy competition and the people will be the better for it. In the same way, the federal government will be able to perform a real supervisory role.
Some have been saying that the regions should be resuscitated, I say no. It is not worth the effort. By the way, do the regions not have ethnic colourations? If so, we should not touch the attempt with a twelve feet pole!
We need to look critically into the issues of federal character and quota sysem with a notion of ridding ourselves of what have become major set backs in our movement forward. We should lay emphasis on the application of meritocracy in all our official dealings.
Finally, the governments must in exchange of the people submitting their rights let them see what their taxes are being used for.
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