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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has said restructuring of the polity was crucial to sustainable development and enduring unity in the country.
Akume, who spoke at the public presentation of the book, ‘Restructuring Nigeria: The way forward,’ by former Rivers State governor, Celestine Omehia, noted that restructuring must be undertaken with the spirit of patriotism, dialogue and peace and pursued as a unifying force, not as a divisive weapon.
The SGF, represented by one of his aides, Professor Bolaji Babatunde, commended Omehia for his courage, intellect and commitment in writing the book, describing it as a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation on the subject, which will enhance public understanding.
According to him, “restructuring is not about breaking up Nigeria; it is about strengthening the federation by devolving responsibilities, empowering subnational governments and creating a governance structure that brings power closer to the people.
“Indeed, many of the reforms already being implemented by this administration point clearly in that direction. The removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market are bold fiscal steps aimed at empowering states through improved revenue allocation and stronger economic governance.
“The ongoing tax reforms are designed to broaden the fiscal space and ensure that federating units can generate and retain more resources to serve their people.”
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Akume stated that the ongoing conversation on the establishment of state police, reflects a deliberate move by the government towards a more responsive federation.
“Equally significant are the ongoing conversations on the establishment of state police, which would deepen security at the grassroots, and the push for greater digital and infrastructure investments that enable states to become engines of growth in their own right. These are not isolated policy choices, they reflect a deliberate move toward a more balanced, efficient and responsive federation.
“As we engage with restructuring, we must do so with a spirit of patriotism, dialogue and peace. It is always better to live in peace with each other as a family than be at war with one another. Our strength as a nation lies not in uniformity but in unity, in harnessing our diversity for collective progress. Restructuring must, therefore, be pursued as a unifying force, not as a divisive weapon.”
Omehia, in his welcome address, implored Nigerians not to be sentimental about the need to restructure the country. He stated that the book proposes a pathway for the conversation on the restructuring of the country.
“This book proposes the way forward for this needed dialogue. Let us not be too sentimental about the need to restructure Nigeria. In every establishment or any system of government, whether the system is succeeding or not, there is every need to improve on the success or failure of that system. This move to improve upon the success or failure of the system is what is needed today to restructure our system of governance.
“The American Constitution has been restructured several times to accommodate the general interest of Americans. In fact, history has it that it has been amended 27 times even when it was working well for the good of Americans.
“On the same stretch, the British system of government has been restructured several times before it is what it is. For instance, the monarchical constitution has been retained by the British system of government because it is working for them. Nigeria can do the same to improve on our governmental system for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians,” he stated.
