‘Dialogue, restructuring key to Nigeria’s survival’

Prominent Nigerians, including key players in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are waiting to see how The Buhari administration would address issues of dialogue with the Niger Delta militants and the long time agitation to restructure the country.

Their concern and curiosity stemmed from the initial aloofness of Mr. President to the demands for dialogue with Niger Delta militants, and the recent change in his body language.

Perhaps the persistent damages inflicted on the nation’s oil installations and the negative consequences on the country’s economy may have contributed to the factors compelling the presidency to have a rethink.

But while the President seemed willing to hear what the militants have to say even for the sake of being seen as shifting grounds a little, he appeared unruffled by the cry for restructuring.

However, the pressure is mounting by the day. And the voices of no less personalities like former Vice President, Ahaji Abubakar Atiku; former Minister of Defense, Gen. Alani Akinrinade; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Pro. Ben Nwabueze, among others were added to the pressure group.

Some specifically counseled that President Buhari might be the last president of Nigeria if his party continued to turn a deaf ear to the demand for restructure, which they allegedly signed onto in their party’s manifesto before the 2015 elections, in addition to dialogue with the various agitating groups.

On the other hand, those opposing it said it was unnecessary to dialogue with any group or region that took up arms against its nation and that they should rather be treated like common criminals and prosecuted. Also, they argued that the issue of restructuring could be handled at the National Assembly.

In particular, the former vice president noted that restructuring of the Nigerian federation to cater for the aspirations of its component units.

According to him, restructuring was the answer to the current agitation for a Biafra Republic and some other vital issues confronting the Nigerian federation, saying: “Agitations by many right thinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralised, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities.”

But a former Senator and member of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) Tony Adefuye faulted the demand asserting that there was nothing like restructuring or true federalism.

He said restructuring has many dimensions, “some said we should have a weak centre and stronger regions but from the outcome of the 2014 National Conference, none of the existing states is ready to surrender its authority to any regional headquarters like in the past. For instance, when the issue was debated at the conference majority of the existing states insisted they could no longer accept regional authority that was part of the reasons we recommended that the percentage of the allocations between the state and the federal should be reversed from the present 48 per cent and 52 per cent between the states and the center to 52.5 per cent to states and 47.5 per cent to the centre.”

Adefuye also opposed the call for dialogue between the Federal Government and the militants saying: “The people of the Niger Delta region should rather hold their leaders responsible for how the 13 per cent derivations and other benefits the country has conceded to the regions through different commissions and institutions established to cater for the areas have been used. It is wrong to accuse the government alone for the challenges of the region, their leaders are also culpable.”

Senator Joseph Waku who represented Benue North West constituency said it was criminal to take up arms against ones country. Although he agreed that there was nothing wrong in agitations, he said such must follow a constitutional pattern because every regions, areas and communities were represented in the National Assembly through which complaints could be lodged and addressed.

On his part, former Minister of Information and a leader in the APC, Tony Momoh, argued that the Niger Delta crisis could only be resolved through dialogue.

He said it was inconsequential to posit that the militants should be arrested and treated like common criminals “the fact is every situation that results in reaction, abuses or free spill of blood or whatever arises from breakdown in communication gap, there is the need for dialogue to address it.

On whether President Buhari must adopt late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s Amnesty template, Momoh said such decision could not be ascertained now because something far better could eventually come out of the new dialogue.

Meanwhile former Minister of Defense, Gen. Alani Akinrinade posited that the issues confronting the country today outweighed mere dialogue with the Niger Delta for the aim of granting amnesty, saying: “What has been the outcome of previous dialogues? The Yar’Adua amnesty programme did not stop MEND or the Avengers or MASOB or IPOB from springing up.”

He said: “late Isaac Boro staged the first interrogation of the Niger Delta crisis but he died in the struggle. The second one was an intellectual interrogation by Ken Saro Wiwa, who thought we are rational people. He wrote and staged dramas to send the message of what is going on in the region but the country hung him. We think the matter was settled but not. Now we have the Avengers and if we are able to settle them the question is who would be next?

“We actually need to restructure and fashion out ways all these agitations would be addressed. Dialogue is good for immediate solution but restructuring would bring the lasting solutions to all our woes.”