It’s delightful that a growing number of weighty northern leaders from different ethnic groups in the region are now coming out to join their southern counterparts in canvassing for the restructuring of the country. When most of their people are against transforming the nation from a 36 – state set up into about six or eight regions and from the executive presidential order to the parliamentary system of the colonial era and the pioneer Republic of October 1, 1960 – January 14, 1966.
The first reports of this were about the trio of former military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, an Angas of Plateau State, Hausa – born Alhaji Balarabe Musa and Colonel Abubakar Umar, a Fulani, who are former civilian and military Governors of Kaduna State respectively. Last month, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, a Fulani of Adamawa State and the nation’s Vice – President from May 29, 1999 – May 28, 2007 joined the crusade, while General Ibrahim Babangida, a Gwari of Niger State and former military Head of State (August 27, 1985 – August 26, 1993) followed up two weeks ago.
Babangida’s contribution is particularly very important because he revealed that his government considered the parliamentary system for the nation in 1989 and regretted that his administration did not implement it before he left office abruptly in 1993. It is a telling remorsefulness because like President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegun Obasanjo he too was a member of late General Murtala Muhammed – led Supreme Military Council which in October 1975 decided and announced that the country on return to civil rule on October 1, 1979 would operate the executive presidential system.
Which proved expensive, wasteful and retarded the country’s rapid development and progress and made corruption worse that Generals Buhari, Babandida and Sani Abacha overthrew the elected government of President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983. A system which the military administration of General Abdulsalami Abubakar unwisely and unfortunately returned the country to on May 29, 1999 and which has made things worse that the immediate past Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. David Cameron earlier in the year described Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt nation.
But now coming out to support the restructuring of the country Generals Gowon and Babangida, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Balarabe Musa and Colonel Umar have removed it from being seen as a southern agenda brought up because Buhari who is from their region is now president. When they never raised it during the presidencies of southern – born duo of General Obasanjo (May 1999 – May 2007) and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s five year stay in office (May 2010 – May 2015). But such northerners forget that it is Buhari’s discriminatory tribally influenced policies and non – cabinet appointments and the way he has been dealing with Niger Delta crisis that were responsible for southerners demanding restructuring.
Now that restructuring has been made a national issue instead of a parochial southern agenda its success has become enhanced. What I now look forward to is for Generals Gowon and Babangida and Alhaji Atiku who are highly respected and very influential personalities to go a step further than merely voicing support for the cause. They should now meet and discuss the issues with the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emirs and other monarchs in the North as well as the political and other leaders in the region. Letting them know why restructuring is good for the country and parliamentary system is better than the presidential one. And that making the changes will immensely benefit the nation and all Nigerians including the traditional rulers.
Continues next Wednesday


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The two reactions I received to last week’s piece on this subject were very funny, unbelievable and uncalled for. According to Augustine Ukaegbu of Owerri (080 – 3358 – 4682), Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe cannot be blamed for teaming up with the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) after the December 1959 election to form the Federal Government. He is of this opinion because of what he read in the Tell Magazine of February 21 and March 7, 2005 and which he still has, that it was the British colonial authorities who made Zik and his party, the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (later changed to National Council of Nigerian Citizens in 1961) to do so.
But the fact is that I never questioned nor blamed Igbo leaders for teaming up with the NPC instead of the Action Group led by Yoruba – born Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The point I made was how did it become treachery against fellow southerners, as some Igbo and South – South people argued, if the Yoruba to prevent the disintegration of the country in 1967 decided to team up with the North when it was the same reason the Igbo gave for allying with NPC in 1959?
But more ridiculous was this text message sent anonymously through telephone number 080 – 3340 – 8372 which reads: “Your arguments sometimes are tendentious and manifestly insupportable. So because the Igbo formed government with the North in 1960, then the Yoruba must do the same no matter the consequences? It’s absurd. So the North are the overlords who must be appeased at all times.”
See the way a rabid and inveterate tribalist thinks and waywardly reacts illogically. Is it reasonable for anyone who is right – minded or has sound views and principles, to say or write that the Igbo were right and free to have done what they liked and was in their best interest in 1960? And unashamedly assert that it was wrong and abominable for the Yoruba to have done in 1967 what the Igbo did eight years earlier?
To be continued next week