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From Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja
Former minister of Health, Prof Alphonsus B.C. Nwosu and former presidential adviser on political matters to ex-President Shehu Shagari, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, have diferent opinions on former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida’s call for restructuring of Nigeria.
On Monday, June 26, Babangida, in his Eid-el-Fitri message, called for Nigeria’s immediate restructuring as most issues being canvassed for are germane.
Nwosu and Yakasai spoke with Daily Sun in separate telephone interviews.
Prof. Nwosu commended the former military ruler and reiterated that restructuring of the country will benefit every Nigerian.
“I was not surprised that IBB called for restructuring . He means well; he has always meant well. Everybody has now seen the need for restructuring.”
Nwosu, however, noted “there are three things we need to agree in order to arrive on what configuration a restructured Nigeria should be. Should it be the federal government with states as federating units? Or should it be the federal government and the new super- structure (regions or zones) as federating units? We need to agree.
“We argued over these options in 1994/1995 (General Sani) Abacha Conference and we had a decision.
“We argued over it at the 2014 National Conference, which I was a part of, and we reached a decision.
“It is important that we agree now on that decision and stop introducing confusing configurations. We must speak with one language on what constitutes federating units. On the outlandish side of the federal government, there is consensus. I haven’t seen anybody who does not agree that we should devolve powers from the centre to the federating units.”
In his own take on the matter, Yakassai said he had nothing against the position taken by Babangida on the issue but implored him and other apostles of restructuring to give Nigerians the blueprint on how it will be implemented.
He argued that Nigerians were, two years ago, promised a change for the better by the All Progressives Congress (APC) but, according to him, rather than the promise being fulfilled, Nigerians are worse off.
He said “General Babangida, like other Nigerians, are entitled to their opinion on the issue of restructuring. What I only want from those clamouring for it is to give us a blueprint on how it will be implemented. We need a roadmap for its implementation.”
On the outlandish side of the federal government, there is consensus. I haven’t seen anybody who does not agree that we should devolve powers from the cent to the federating units. It is important on those powers from the Exclusive List which should go to the Concurrent List. I shall give you an example- there is the issue of Mines and Mineral Resources; it is on the Exclusive List. We have recommended that it should go to the Concurrent List .
“If it doesn’t go to the Concurrent List because people who are parasitising on oil and gas don’t want it, we will not be able to develop the bitumen, gold, iron ore and all the other solid minerals that abound everywhere in Nigeria. So we recommended five per cent of national revenue for the development of these resources. We must agree on the devolution of power.
“Thirdly, we have to do the restructuring arithmetic. Everybody says the states as they are presently are not viable and they cannot be viable because the Federal Government has pocketed the entire money by collecting over fifty percent of national revenue. The Federal Government should not have more than thirty five percent of national revenue and the bale should go to the federating units. If that happens, the federate its will be very viable whether they are states or regions.
“So we have to really do the arithmetic to determine what percentage of national revenue will go for things such as derivation on minerals and other important functions.”
In his own take on the matter, Yakassai said he had nothing against the position taken by IBB on the issue but implored him and other apostles of restructuring to give Nigerians the blueprint on how it will be implemented.
He argued that Nigerians were two years ago promised a change for the better by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but , according to him, rather than the promise being fulfilled ,Nigerians are worse off at the moment.
He said “ Gen IBB like other Nigerians are entitled to their opinion on the issue of restructuring. What I only want from those clamouring for it is to give us a blueprint on how it will be implemented . We need a roadmap for its implementation”.
He continued “ I am old and I don’t think I can be deceived. We are tired of all these slogans. Two years ago some people came up with a change mantra , Nigerians voted them into government on the strength of the promise that they will change Nigeria. But not only that we have not seen the change , Nigerians are worse off two years after. We cannot fall into similar pit again, we need a blueprint on how the restructuring will be implemented.”
