Nigeria is not a homogeneous society. It is we the people not selected few, but the whole people who will write a constitution that will govern us. Our prosperity to the whole people not the few. Our rights beyond the power of any state to deny. The solution to Nigeria's problem is less to do with economics than the gross abuse of power. We must be willing to get it right if we want to move forward as a nation, restructuring Nigeria is not an option rather a development intervention whose time has come. This starts by addressing the root of the problem which is ''hijacking by despotism''. You cannot talk about good governance without addressing social justice and equity. Good governance is about providing a 'transparent and stable envinroment for welfare and growth', which is lacking in Nigeria due to the political system. I have just read the Vice President's response; Professor Osibanjo to Former Vice President Atiku Abubarkar describing his position on restructuring as 'vague', this is not true. He also said restructuring is not Nigeria's problem, this is also not true. Meanwhile he favours stronger autonomous states, state police, so what is restructuring? The Professor is simply mixing up the arguement for political gains, despite abundant evidence of state failure. I have also read a new story where the ruling APC party is questioning why Alhaji Atiku who was a Vice-President for Eight years did not effect restructuring. This is laughable because everyone knows the simple answer and reason for the heightened agitation; 'full blown tyranny', in this political dispensation. Nigeria is now at it's worst in everything ; leadership, economy, division, etc, moreso, we're now in the golden age , the age of enlightenment and new awareness where people are now fully aware of their basic rights in their own country. Today's technology and globalisation have fully equipped people with new knowledge and information about how things are done properly and how it's done in other places, similarly it has equipped them with the tools to ask important questions about the future and mobilise effectively to demand change. The population of the country is growing astronomically estimated about 200-million and there is infrastructural deficit to support this trend. Professor Osibanjo described this development as ''democratic time bomb", unless the government mobilises a good stakeholder partnership to build a strong economy that will support the nation's fast growing population.
Professor Osibanjo favours stronger, more autonomous states that will embrace innovative management, good governance and greater economic diversification citing the success of Lagos state especially in increased Internal Revenue Generation, brilliant. The answer is not far fetched. Lagos state was the first capital of Nigeria and now the commercial city with steady investment in infrastructure, human and material resources, secondly it has enjoyed unlimited independence and stability from the centre, the most populous state in the country, and the leadership is also local. I totally agree with more autonomous states with greater economic and financial resources. He favours state police which means more economic and financial resources to the states. What we are yet to acertain is if this is personal opinion or the position of the ruling party and the government. The ruling APC party leadership said it would only look into the issue of restructuring after the next election which we know its not true, and the government spokesman Mr Femi Adesina said the president is unpeturbed by the recent pressure by Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar to revisit the restructuring debate. The Vice-President, Professor Osibanjo rejects the idea of of creating additional states to address the imbalance in the system due to size and cost, i totally disagree with this position because its the fundamental rights of citizens to benefit from the wealth of the nation and to ensure equity and justice in the system; proportional representation. It's not a 'gift' of the federal government. According to George Kerevan and Alan Cochrane, "the arguement that size should confer greater risk is not found in any economic textbook". There are evidence of successful small states that don't have the benefits of oil. Today there are innovative ways to grow small states. Secondly a look at the Population Census and INEC registration details reveals a lot of flaws in the system. Some states/regions are more populous than others not taken account that the people who make up this numbers are from various states, this also affects election outcomes, representations, revenue allocation and other distribution of development projects, making it very difficult to reconcile state of origin and state of residence. Population census counts were deeply influenced for power, representation and resources.
On Corruption, my inescapable position is that corruption cannot fix corruption. The political system is the main corruption that must be overhauled to address the interconnectedness of trust, governance and growth. We are all aware of Matthew Page's report on corruption in Nigeria. According to him ; "Corruption in Nigeria runs the gamut from the jaw dropping, to the creative, to the mundane''. In his words; "It encompasses the oil minister who diverted billions in just a few years. It includes the local official who claimed a snake silthered into her office and gobbled up $100,000 in cash. And it involves the cop shaking down motorists for 25-cents a piece at makeshift checkpoints"-[Matthew Page; A New 'Periodic Table' To Classify Corruption; The FCPA Blog , Wednesday, August 22 2018]. There is a new report by Amnesty International on 'untraceable $670million dollars on security vote annually'. We are all aware of the rot at the oil industry including a missing $25billion dollars which the Vice-President was appointed to investigate. We're yet to see the outcome till date, etc. The Governors all accused the management of NNPC of lack of transparency in remitting differences in oil prices, The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki said NNPC stinks despite regime change. According to Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, " Nigeria sold Oil & Gas worth $104Billion Dollars only $38Billion Dollars went to the account of Nigeria"-Falana Wants Nigeria Government To Recover Over $100Billion Dollars Unremitted Royalties From Oil Firms, Premium Times, 19 October 2018. Most of the politicians that were accused of corruption are now lured in by the government to help it win the next election. In the words of the ruling APC party Chairman, Adams Oshimole; "once you join the ruling APC party, your sins are forgiven", this is not how to fight corruption. Meanwhile the Vice President , Professor Osibanjo is leading the government social intervention programme in Osun State with a political bribery of Ten Thousand Naira interest free loan (N10,000.00) payment to Osun state traders just because of the Governorship election this month, perhaps he doesn't see it as corruption. The design of the scheme was to be private sector driven led by the local co-operative societies , microfinance and other thrift organisations, but its now hijacked for political gains. Furthermore when we talk about corruption the politicians/government tend to make ordinary people believe that corruption is just stealing public funds.
Corruption, also involves 'hijacking by despotism'; what Professor A.C. Grayling described as "the licence to do as one pleases'', which is the root of corruption in Nigeria. It also includes political bias, discrimination, favouritism, 'deliberate wastes' including funding traditional rulers/religious leaders, religious pilgrimage, payment to terrorists, abnormal executive/legislature wages(exhorbitant salaries), medical and education tourism, subsidy abuse and the president making himself peteroleum minister, tax evasion, allocation of government lands to private use, certificate forgery, non-disclosure, political appointments into unproductive agencies for political gains, commercialisation of political party nomination forms to exclude the majority, social exclusion, money politics, lies, mass propaganda, fake news, etc. A new report by Guadian newspaper Nigeria, has revealed that the Federal Government can save about N75 Billion Naira annually, if it abolishes the sponsorship of Hajj . We have also seen a new report on Sahara Reporters, Tinubu's Alpha Beta is accused of N100Billion money laundering, Tax evasion and other frauds, yet Chief Bola Tinubu is the National Leader of the ruling APC party and the political god father of the Vice-President, Professor Osibanjo. The idea of the government to misinform the people to believe that its only the PDP that is corrupt is fraudlent, corruption is everywhere. It's a very fraudlent strategy to hide incompetence, incapacitation and reality. It's very wrong, fraudlent and populist strategy to persuade and influence voters from making the right choices. This government is the problem not the solution by playing political football with the much desired restructuring debate. To eradicate corruption in Nigeria, we must start from the root cause of the problem, anything else is distraction.
The Vice-President talked about social feeding programmes and conditional cash transfer schemes, tradermoni, n-power as poverty erdaication programmes of the government. Though these are barbaric poverty eradication strategies that do not add value to the economy, non-tax paying, low skills, low wage equilibrium, this is also not without political bias and favouritism. I wonder how many states that are currently benefitting from this programme and the criteria for selection. We will address this later after studying his position on this.
We have argued that the focus should be to harness internal partnerships of our various components to build trust, independent democratic institutions including the judiciary and the legislature, anti-corruption agencies, etc to achieve growth and stability due to our heterogeneous nature, not unitary enforcement approach by the centre. This is not far from geographical restructuring, moving economic and political power down to identity. Local people must take wholesome ownership to drive investments and innovative management , security and greater economic diversification,etc without undue interference by the centre. The centre controls a whole lot of the national resources just to do as it pleases, and the people reside in local areas not in the city. This fuels unnecessary hardships.
The administration of government in Nigeria is through three levels, similarly, budgetary allocations are shared among these governments as follows:
Federal: 52.6%
States : 26.72%
LGAs : 20.60%
The federal government ought to take the least, rather it's the other way round just to build a big army to maintain security, fund unproductive agencies to benefit a certain homogeneous group, political bribery, pay themselves exorbitant wages, fund the next election and other 'white elephant projects' for political gains instead of development, especially at the local level. According to Pete Hoekstra; former Chairman of the US Intelligence Committee from 2004-2007, Seventy percent- 70% of the national treasury is spent on the salaries and benefits of government officials who make upwards of two million ($2 Million ) dollars a year. There's urgent need to develop new cities,build new sea-ports, air-hubs, enhance connectivity, empower states with greater economic and financial resources to explore and exploit their comparative advantage, diversify their economy through taxation, trade, technology , foreign direct investments and financial markets, provide key infrastructure and pool of skilled labour to benefit from globalisation as big businesses are seeking for new markets and Nigeria provides a favourable destination. They come with the much needed capital , investment and technology which is a great asset for development. There is no evidence in any economic textbook that 'small states' will not survive and lift its citizens out of poverty. There is abundant evidence of many small states that are successful and achieved economic growth. The states that choose to waste their own income on funding pilgrimage and other white elephant projects will only have themselves to blame, its not supposed to be a national problem. According to Peter Katzenstein; "In order to achieve all this, small states needed to stay competitive and adaptable, limit labor costs in the export sector and by offering public goods in return for private wage claims. This included a large stake in domestic planning and decision making and incomprehensive public spending schemes"-[.Small States in World Markets: Industrial Policy in Europe; Professor Peter Katzenstein, 1985.]
We will take our time to address this burning national issue taking a holistic look at the following :
a) Better Governance:
"Good governance provides a transparent and stable environment for risk assessment and decision making and contributes to welfare and growth"- Professor Richard Griffiths.
Restructuring presents that magic bullet to achieve good governance. Good governance is about openness, and transparency, efficient provision of public goods, strong institutions that will remove the need for bribery and corruption, increased levels of trust, greater provision of public services including education and healthcare, reducing the incentive for grab your share of the national cake that has defined the country, economic growth and prosperity . It is possible to have fair and just society- freedom, equity, social justice reigns. Homogeneity increases trust, good governance and leads to economic progress.
b)Trust:
"Trust is the glue that holds society together"-Professor Richard Griffiths
The problem of trust is inherent in our political system with the political actors proving us right on a daily basis. Undermining trusts leads to fragmentation of society which poses a threat to democracy and development. Trust is essential to society. The trust question is a very important factor for restructuring. There is now a collapse of trust due to divisions, discriminations, favouritism and bold political bias in government policies resulting in heightened agitation for immediate restructuring of this current political system. The role of trust is very important in the society especially heterogeneous society like Nigeria. The level of mutual trust is important in measuring the quality of governance. The government we elected to act on our behalf must act in the interest of the whole society not the ''narrow sectional interest of their own''. The presidency says the president selects only the people he trusts to work with him, now the only people he can trust are his immediate family, and a few close friends. These are people with whom he shares his knowledge, transactions, plans for his future and his rewards, so he is not fit to be president of the whole country. The other ethnic minorities are not trusted enough to be in his government as has shown in his political appointments including security chiefs and other politicisation of policies.
Homogeneous society is an advantage to high level of trust as the idea of trust is embedded in social capital. The current system in Nigeria is characterised by '"patronage-,the favouring of family and proteges, permeated by cronyism, the favouring of friends, clintellism, the favouring of regular business contacts and associates and corruption, the giving or taking of bribes to secure a deal". Resturing is the answer as the current system undermines the formation of the social capital and the nuturing of trust leading to the fragmentation of the society which endangers democracy and development. Trust is very important to build confidence in government, ensure openess and transparency and reduce the prevalent incidence of 'grab your share' which has characterised our politics. Click on this link to read more: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/09/the-centrality-of-trust-in-nigeria-are.html
c)Greater Citizen Engagement:
Restructuring offers the easiest opportunity for greater citizen engagement, help ''improve transparency and accountability of public policies, promote citizen's trust, forge concensus around important reforms and build the political and public support necessary to sustain them"- World Bank.
One of the reason that democracy is considered good for growth is that if citizens are involved in making policy, they will also try to make it work, but it's a big challenge in Nigeria.
d)Economic Development:
The political system/structure has made it increasingly difficult to get it right because of vested interests. This is a dilemma, a tragedy. We must address the big issue of abuse of power. Good governance is very essential to economic growth-, open, transparency and accountability. We must empower people by investing in growth policies, infrastructure, better public services-education and healthcare and policies to attract investment and opportunities in the global economy. Today independent states provide the space where things will happen, they need greater economic and financial resources to invest in key policies that will lift their citizens out of poverty. The Minimum wage debate has also supported the need for greater economic and financial resources for states in Nigeria. According to Governor Dave Umahi, who is the Chairman of the South-East Nigeria Governors Forum, 95% of the states can't pay the National Minimum Wage of N30,000.00 which is less than the World Bank's Living wage of $1.9 dollars per day, because of the dysfunctional allocation formular. In his words; "the payment of Thirty Thousand Naira(N30,000.00) can only be realised if the federation account allocation formula is reviewed to offer more earnings to states. People don't understand the problems being experienced by the states and the Governors have kept quiet for long and need to speak presently"- Gov. Dave Umahi; 95% of States Can't Pay N30,000.00 Minimum Wage, The Nation, November 7, 2018.
- Economic Diversification(Agriculture,
Entrepreneurship, Mfg, Trade, Taxation,
Tech, Tourism, etc)
e)Economic Infrastructure Investment:
i)Physical Infrastructure:
Road network, Connectivity, Power Generation, Construction of Bridges, Broad-band,
Railways, Development of Sea Ports, Airports/Airhubs,
ii)Social Infrastructure:
Health, Education, Social Welfare, Finance, etc.
f)Technology/Globalisation- Trade, Foreign Direct Investments, Financial Markets.
"Technology is a force for peace and prosperity"-WEF.
Technology is the future, it come with opportunities and risks which we can harness for development. Technology provides the best opportunities for progress. Restructuring offers us the opportunity to adapt fast to the challenges of technology instead of perishing in the bureaucracy and political bias of the centre. We must invest in the future by providing the infrastructure, and equipping young people with new knowledge and skills especially digital skills to participate in the new economy- trade, foreign direct investment and financial markets whose growth is driven by technology. "Investing in a healthy, educated and resilient population is key to competing effectively in the global economy"-World Bank (Human Capital-InvestInPeople).
g)Security/Jobs- Proper jobs not hand-out.
"Security and Stability are precursors to economic growth and development"-Pete Hoestra.
The current political system creates unnecessary discrimination, political favouritism and bias, insecurity and instability all the creation of the politicians for the struggle for territory and resource control. The Southern and Middle-belt forum leaders have just described the recent removal of a more competent, experienced and qualified Acting DG of DSS , Mr Mattew Seiyefa and the appointment of Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi from Kano State by the president as a "vote of no confidence in one Nigeria''. In their own words: "The I don't care and in-your-face attitude of the president in restoring Nigeria security architecture to the provocative situation of having 16 out of 17 service chiefs from his corner of the country is a clear demonstration of the fact that Nigeria for General Muhammadu Buhari is no more than his section of Nigeria and the resources and the constitutionally mandatory votes from other sections of the country. Since 1960 Nigeria has never had a leader more sectional, narrow, parochial, and tribalistic like the current president who went on a global stage to divide Nigeria into 95% and 5%". Unfortunately, this is a big slap in the face to Professor Yemi Osibanjo, the Vice President who appointed Mr Mattew Seiyfa as the Acting DG of DSS just less than a month ago in the wake of the seige on the national assembly led by a former Director of DSS also the President's tribes man. ''Are we still in one country?", the Southern and Middle-Belt leaders asked in a press statement.
h)Cultural, Moral, Identity:
Culture is the engine for economic growth, we must protect our identity, cultural assets and values. Restructuring is a moral guarantor of our various culture, and identity, very essential for growth, security and stability. Power to identity not power imposed on identity.
i)The Myth of Diaspora:
The Diaspora need a place they can call home devoid of tyranny, favouritism and political bias. Diaspora brings new attitude, education and new skills,
helps build knowledge economy, research & innovation, trade,technology, finance, investments, etc. Diaspora is huge source of foreign direct investment needed for economic development and growth.
j)International Organisations/NGOs:
Non-Governmental Organisations are great force for development. They have a lot of 'power and influence' to effect development . They don't need unneccessary influence of the decisions and bureacracy of the centre to tell them where to operate and what to do.
k)Global Partnership/International Institutions:
International organisations play a great role in development. Restructuring offers great opportunity to tap into this global partnerships without bureaucracy or political bias and favouritism.
l)Growth and Stability.
Restructuring is about alternative policy responses to stagnation, persistence poverty and instability .Restructuring Nigeria is one sure way to address the 'inter-connectedness of trust, governance and growth'. Restructuring offers the opportunity to invest in growth policies that will guarantee growth and stability instead of unnecessary politicisation of policies. Prosperity comes with peace, not fear and terror. Growth is not too complex, its achievable if we play by the rules. In the words of Creston Davis; '' A crucial element of change happens when people realisze that the current state of things no longer works. Change is a fundamental aspect of all areas of life. Growth requires change, but institutions that benefit from keeping things the same have a vested interest in resisting change''. Read more soon. http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/09/growth-and-stability-is-not-too-complex.html
Note:
I have argued very strongly that politics in Nigeria is dominated by self-interests, narrow demands of the cabals who weild power; ruthless cabals with a 'distinct lack of conscience'. The country has been shaped more by political decisions of the centre ; unitary-centralised political system characterised by exploitation, ruthless pursuit of self-interests which affects economic development , trust, governance and growth. It needs adjustment/restructuring to guarantee autonomous states/regions, independence of the political decisions of the centre, i.e, greater devolution of responsibilities and resources.
There is abundant evidence of successful economies that do not have the benefits of oil. They have thrived on efficient tax system, technology, entrepreneurship, Agriculture, manufacturing, trade, greater citizen engagement, inclusiveness, knowledge economy, empowering women, pioneering investment and innovation, modernisation, prudent management and better governance, the myth of diaspora, NGOs, global partnerships etc. Independent states with more economic and financial resources present great opportunity not risks for development.
Restructuring is the solution to the current political system/structure which 'obstructs development and consolidation of democracy' in Nigeria. Homogeneous society is a great advantage to democratization, this is not far from moving economic and political power down to identity. Restructuring is about alternative policy responses to stagnation, persistence poverty and instability .Restructuring Nigeria is one sure way to address the 'inter-connectedness of trust, governance and growth'.
Employing a political economy approach, Independent States/Autonomy will avoid centralised leadership, promote decentralized leadership for more effective governance, prevent dominant coalition, make it 'easier to obtain consensus, develop and propagate its own agenda , build separated and strong institutions-investigative and judicial arm and promote its own ideology and diplomacy, cultural and historical factors, greater citizen engagement-accountability and transparency, embrace partnership as part of its own development strategy. Unlike the current structure characterised by self-interests, formation of dominant coalition, lack of transparency and accountability, weak institutions and mechanisms to hold leaders to account for their promises.
Restructuring Nigeria is one sure way to harness or manage our diversity, make the union strong and leverage global partnership to effect development and growth. Restructuring is neither disintegration nor seccession, as the politicians want ignorant people to believe, so ordinary people need to be properly informed. Without restructuring anything else is distraction.
Electoral democracy, i.e. election every four years does not bring development especially in a political climate/environment characterised by pitch invasion-'gutter' politicians in charge. Some of us still see the world through the map phenomenon or 'map' narrative; distorted views that tend to make us celebrate and fight for the status-quo, the same reason for persistence of poverty, mass-unemployment, stagnation and political instability. Thinking needs to change. We must learn to look at the solution to our problem from the global best practices, not the distorted/narrow views of the power grabs; self proclaimed statesmen influenced by prejudice, outdated knowledge and self-interests. Homogeneity increases trust, good governance and leads to economic progress.Restructuring is one sure way to guarantee security and prosperity of citizens in Nigeria.
Click on this link to read more:
http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/09/restructuring-nigeria-is-one-sure-way.html
-Better Governance:
As we explained above; ''Good governance provides a transparent and stable environment for risk assessment and decision making and contributes to welfare and growth'- Professor Richard Thomas Griffiths', but this is lacking in Nigeria due to the political system; dictatorial, division, poor resource management, discrimination, corruption- favouritism, political bias, wastes on 'white elephant projects' , etc. Never has it been so bad as in this current dispensation which has galvanised a united front to demand urgent restructuring due to uncertain future. Global reports reveal that Nigeria ranks top of global poverty table,overtaking India and others, unemployment hits the highest record ever, Nigeria ranks below Congo, Somalia, Sudan in insecurity table, the health minister says Nigeria is leading the world on mortality rate.Nigeria is top of the worst electricity supply nations. We are aware of other global reports on the economy, education, rule of law, human rights abuse, terrorism etc. The anti-corruption drive is selective and targets only opposition members, creating 'deep political divisions' and prolonged uncertainties. This should be a huge cause for concern. I don't know if this is the leadership that Professor Osibanjo is talking about. Read More: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/10/governance-in-nigeria-exploitation-and.html
Similarly the President has declined to sign new Africa trade deals which has the potential to open up new opportunities for citizens. In Nigeria, infrastructure and public services are for political gains with a barbaric development policy of 95/5%, etc. Elections are not credible, not free and fair and the federal government is in complete control of democratic institutions often appointing people from a particular tribe(tribes men) and relatives to be in charge,to influence election outcomes, this is not fair and certainly not the future in a heterogeneous society. The government is just interested in the next election, to continue business as usual . Electoral democracy-election every four years does not bring economic development. This is not a good model for development especially in a heterogeneous society like Nigeria.
Autonomy will guarantee regions/states a less risky and stable environment to drive innovative management and greater economic diversification without undue interference of the centre to undertake economic development to contribute to improving the welfare of their citizens and overall growth of their respective states. 'Politics and Economics are interconnected', so it needs local ownership/leadership to succeed, one of the main reasons for independence from colonial masters, however, today we face the risk of modern slavery and colonisation by our own kits and kin, this is not the future that the people want. Independent States/Autonomy will avoid centralised leadership, promote decentralized leadership for more effective governance, prevent dominant coalition, make it ''easier to obtain concensus, develop and propagate its own agenda , build separated and strong institutions-investigative and judicial arm and promote its own ideology and diplomacy'', ensure equity and justice in the system.
-Security/Jobs: Proper jobs not hand-outs; N-Power?
"Security and Stability are precursors to economic growth and development"-Pete Hoestra
The current situation in Nigeria supports the need for immediate restructuring so that states/regions will take wholesome ownership of the security of lives and properties of their own citizens in their own hands. In a heterogeneous society like Nigeria, all the security heads are from one tribe, the president's tribe. The state governors said they are just mere administrators without powers to control security in their own states. Most of the security personnel and institutions-infrastructure,training in the country are located in a particular region providing support and jobs for people from a particular region/tribe. This is not the future. The recent atrocities of the herdsmen in the middle belt and other states exposed the great flaws in the system with the government indicted by Amnesty International and other local and intenational organisation for ineffectiveness and collusion. General TY Danjuma is due to give a public lecture at the British House of Lords in that regard. He is one of the leading voices in accusing the government and the military for collusion. The police runs checkpoints in various parts of the states collecting rents on a daily basis, thus exploiting local people. The president of Ohaneze Ndigbo, a pan Igbo apex organisation raised alarm about the treatements metted out to his people in the South-East Nigeria. Furthermore, the Nigeria government was quick to proscribe Independent People of Biafra IPOB accusing it of posing security risk whereas it was unable to do same to the herdsmen that present the real and present danger. The South East and South South are easily vulnerable to various military intimidations and bullying code named operation python dance, etc, at every least provocation. The government uses security at will to invade state houses of assemblies and effect leadership change in states of interests and have military formations across the states to maintain security of their estate. Its like occupation. State police/security is about new jobs, new institutions, infrastructure, training, new skills, innovative management, effectiveness and efficiency for states and new states. This needs greater economic and financial resources to execute which restructuring offers. Read More: We are no longer comfortable being part of Nigeria says Ohaneze Ndigbo: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/03/nigerias-democracy-and-its-crisis_13.html?spref=fb
-The Myth of Diaspora:
The diaspora is a good force for development especially if they have a place they can call home, a government that is transparent and effective willing to provide security and stable envirnoment for their investments and collaborations/partnerships. Diaspora brings new attitude, new skills , helps build knowledge economy, innovation and technology and funds for investment. Nigeria government is tyrannical, promotes identity politics, discrimination, division and deliberate wastes, denies diaspora votes and participation in election process, commercialise party nomination forms to exclude the majority, cannot guarantee democracy and human rights, no world-class infrastructure including electricity, internet/broadband, clean water, ease of doing business, bureaucracy, lack of protection of property rights, favouritism, political bias, lack of finance, uneven distribution of basic amenities, including sea ports, airhubs, airports, insecurity, etc. Moving power down to identity will definitely spur/harness diaspora partnerships for local economic and political development, especially in the areas of housing, banking/finance, education, healthcare, technology, entrepreneurship, agriculture, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, transport, aviation, agribusiness, oil and gas services, engineering, security, telecommunication, trade, toursim, entertainment, arts and culture, media, etc. The current government stiffles competition by granting monoploy to Dangote to dominate important sectors. According to Senator Ben Bruce Murray; "Nigeria diaspora remitted $22billion dollars to Nigeria in 2017, that is almost Kenya's entire budget for 2018". In his words; "our diaspora is the single largest source of foreign direct investment into Nigeria". I participated in a course on Growing Entrepreneurship in Transitioning Economies so I know of Mr Jason Njoku the owner of Iroko TV, a leading venture capitalist providing support training, mentoring and finance for entrepreneurship especially internet start-ups in Nigeria, and so many others in a position to do more in a transparent, stable, and secure envirnoment devoid of political bias and favouritism. Click on this link to read more: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/06/the-impact-of-diaspora-vote-in-nigerias.html
-NGOs:
Non-Governmental Organisations are good force for development, naturally very effective if its leadership and operation is local ownership. They provide new skills, training often leveraging global partnership to effect development in their localities. What we have in Nigeria is 'good intentions' , this is not the future. The LEAD Project Foundation is a diaspora initiative to effect change and create a better society. The Political System in Nigeria is anti initiatives like this venture and sees it as effective opposition, instead of development partners, that's just the whole point. It's a huge dilemma, a tragedy. Restructuring will certainly change this thinking and harness important partnerships with independent states for development. NGO's also play a great role in service delivery and accountability. This project is an attempt to help shift thinking and inspire action for the desired change.
-Entrepreneurship:
"the Sub-Saharan African region is a vast business ecosystem with gems hidden under rough terrains"-Entrepreneur. The potentials of Entrepreneurship in Nigeria is amazing but this is not without challenges, the same thing-politics; favouritism, political bias, lack of transparency, insecurity, identity politics, bureaucracy, lack of investment in pioneering research, commercialisation of research and innovation, poor infrastructural investment, poor support including finance etc. The government funds unproductive federal agencies for political gains and tribal gains/domination. Restructuring offers the opportunity to eliminate barriers that limit entrepreneurs from creating booming businesses. Funds that are wasted on the next election and other white elephant projects including security votes, exorbitant executive/legislature salaries will be harnessed by the new independent states to invest in growth policies and support entrepreneurship; encourage start-ups and help them grow and scale up leveraging global partnerships. Entrepreneurship presents great opportunity to drive local economic development, stability and growth by providing the right education,collaboration, infrastructure including electricity, internet/broadband and new skills for new jobs. Read More:
-Infrastructural Investment:
In Nigeria provision of public services including infrastructure is for political gains and control. The current government has a 95%: 5% policy depending on the number votes receieved during elections. The government unilaterally invests in other neighbouring countries, funds fruitless oil search and ransome payments to terrorists instead of investing in component states. We have seen railway for Niger Republic. The government is building a new refinery in Katsina state in addition to existing refineries in Kaduna state, perhaps the other states/regions would have to wait until its their turn to become president. Lagos state sea port is now congested but there seems to be no political will to diversify and invest in connectivity, build new sea ports and railway lines in various states seen as unnecessary competitors instead of development partners. There is no political will to build new international airports/airhubs in various states or improve existing ones to open up new routes and opportunities for international trade. Citizens have to transit through designated airports to access international markets due to federal government policies of control. This causes loss of revenue to those vulnerable states targeted for control. It's impossible to achieve development in this regard, where political decisions retard infrastructural investments. Independent states is the answer which restructuring offers. Read More:
-Coclusion:
No doubt restructuring seeks to end the dependency culture and unnecessary interference of the centre, well- intentioned marginalisation of ethnic minorities often using conquering tactis to diminish their economic and political potentials. Restructuring will definitely help states/regions to adapt, exploit comparative advantage and competitiveness, to raise productivity, investment and innovation once economic and political autonomy is attained . Lastly it will also help to eliminate sycophancy, corruption and political clintellism that now hunts the polity. In the words of Professor Muhammad Yunus; "Poverty is the absence of human rights. I believe that putting resources into improving the lives of the poor people is a better strategy than spending it on guns". Restructuring is one sure way to harness or manage our diversity, make the union strong and leverage global partnership to effect development and the much needed change. Restructuring is neither disintegration nor seccession, so ordinary people need to be properly informed. Restructuring is for peace, prosperity, stability and growth. Restructuring Nigeria is the revolution we all want. Restructuring is citizens right just like the right to vote in elections, so its not a choice. We must put pressure on the politicians who conspire to maintain a system that favours their interests only. The truth is that we are heading towards greater wealth inequality, authoritarianism , mass poverty, division, insecurity, prolonged uncertainty, all deliberate, avoidable . We will overcome this 'dark and bitter' moment only when reason prevails . No matter how the politicians pretend not to know, homogeneous society is a great advantage to democritization. This is a great challenge to political leaders. Restructuring Nigeria is one sure way to guarantee citizens security and prosperity.
Read this blog regularly as we continue to analyse the activities of the power grabs in Nigeria, with a 'distinct lack of conscience'. To them everything is for political gains; ruthless pursuit of self-interests. Today, they no longer possess monopoly of information. The people must put more pressure on the politicians to restructure the country instead of being continueosly deceived by ''false identities'', and what they hope to gain. The repressed must rise up against a dysfunctional system that excludes and exploits them. Freedom is not freely given by the oppressors/hijackers. In the words of Creston Davis; "Power resists social change".
Find out more soon.
Sixtus Uche Okeke is a Statistician, Social Entrepreneur, the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation and the Author of : 'Nigeria's Democracy And Its Crisis Deliberate, Avoidable-'Bribe & Bullet'. What Can Be Done About It. He has participated in Political Economy of Institutions and Development, Universiteit Leiden and several International Development Courses. He lives in London, United Kingdom.
Read More : Restructuring Nigeria; the big political question of our time- Expensive, Wasteful, Dictatorial: http://www.theleadprojectfoundation.com/2018/08/restructuring-nigeria-big-political.html
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Instead of embracing restructuring the people are continued to be deceieved by "false identities". The repressed must rise up and overthrow a dysfunctional system that excludes and exploits them. Freedom is not freely given by the oppressors/hijackers- Uche Okeke
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