The confusion of David West

Sir: Can anybody be more brilliant or a better Nigerian than Professor Tam David West? But, he was confused about the need for restructuring Nigeria. Restructuring is not about making every village a state or local government, as he seems to imply, but equal recognition for every region or zone. By restructuring I understand a better order, and where there is no order, disorder and confusion reign. For instance, if rotation of key positions, including the presidency, is entrenched in Nigeria’s constitution, it becomes juridical. With rotation of key positions, including the presidency, the Igbo and other peoples will have no reason to feel marginalised.

Thieves should repent, as West avers, but that shouldn’t exclude watchmen or precaution against theft. In 2011, Goodluck Jonathan said there was nothing like rotational presidency, and he rallied the Biafra, Christian Association of Nigeria, as well as bribery and corruption to get elected. Now, after he lost re-election in 2015, Nigeria is back as “Biafra’s enemy”.

Unfortunately, President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress, like the erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party, prefer survival of the fittest, rather than rotation of key positions for order, peace, and stability. Think of the resources at the disposal of the President and the legislators. With PMB’s constant overseas trips and the affluent lifestyle of the legislators, what will happen to the recovered looted funds? The funds will now be officially and legally looted.

The legislators are comparing themselves to chief judges who work a lifetime on the throne. Why should Nigeria’s past Presidents and military Heads of State get life pension after getting so much while in office, and working for only eight years maximum? It was rumoured that Bukola Saraki put himself on life pension before leaving office as Kwara State governor. He and his cohorts denied the rumour. But under him the legislators are attempting to make him enjoy the same thing.

Immunity for the top four in the legislature is particularly senseless when the Senate President and his Deputy are suspected of corruption. Consider a situation in which 36 cars were bought at N36.5 million (each). Of what are the cars made? What will be their lifespan? There are too many things that boggle the mind!

Oyeniran Abioje,
University of Ilorin.