Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday called for the restructuing of Nigeria in ways that will lead to the country’s security challenges. He warned that failure to do so could result in the disintegration of Nigeria.
The former president issued this warning during a virtual public lecture organised in Abeokuta the Ogun State capital.
In his lecture titled “COVID-19 pandemic and Nigeria Security issues: the way forward,”, Obasanjo asserted that President Buhari needs to urgently put in place measures to restructure Nigeria.
Obasanjo pointed out the following in making his case for restructuring. “Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security, which, in itself, is serious enough to make restructuring imperative.
“The South-West governors cried out and devised ‘Amotekun’ as a solution or part-solution. We are yet to see how successfully that will be operated.
“Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no state and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure.
“Criminality is the order of the day. And it cuts across the entire nation. Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians, no matter their tribe, language, religion, geographical location, gender, age or social position.
“If we are all held hostage by criminality of Boko Haram, terrorists, herdsmen/farmers, bandits, kidnappers, militants, armed robbers, then we all have common ground to seek common solution by putting aside governance collapse, incompetence, failure, insincerity and insensitivity and chart a new stable, enduring and generally sustainable basis and platform for the Nigeria federation.
“My personal conviction is that, with the experience we have had operating the current Constitution where we have seen some important aspects of the Constitution being breached willfully and wantonly, and with the centre seemingly being overwhelmed by the issue of security, with crying need from different quarters for reform of the basic structure of Nigeria’s federating units, there is need for the repositioning of our country for the purpose of unity, equity, competence, good governance, security, stability, healthy competition, justice, fast socio-economic development and making Nigeria undisputed regional leader,” Obasanjo demanded.
The former President concluded by stating that: “For us in Nigeria, we have no alternative but to get it right. Otherwise, the future will be worse than the present that is uncertain and bleak with economic downturn and pervasive insecurity.”
