UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF RESTRUCTURING: A SOUTH- WEST PERSPECTIVE (PART-THREE)

UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF RESTRUCTURING: A SOUTH- WEST PERSPECTIVE     
                         (PART-THREE)
                                By: 
                      Nurudeen Dauda
                       July 4, 2017.
nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com.
nurudeendauda24@gmail.com
nurudeendauda.blogspot.com

                               
Permit me to present my argument on the dominant view for“Restructuring” from the South-West Geo-Political Zone. But, however, It will be very good for the reader to read both Part one and Two of this write ups in order to fully understand my argument.

To the majority of South-West advocates of “Restructuring”, In my observation, it means going back to the Regional Government with  a total Regional Autonomy as well as allowing the formation of “State Police” by the Regions which means Federalism with a relatively “Weak Centre” as in the practice in the first Republic. The view is very popular among the South-West professionals alike who believe that the arrangement will promote Regional Economic Integration which will in turn leads to Regional Economic Growth and Development.

More so, the promoters of this view always make reference to the Chief Obafemi Owolowo Regional Government of the first Republic which had united the Yoruba Race. He also pulls the resources of the Region together which enabled him achieved greatly. The Government of Awolowo gave more emphasis on “Education” which placed the “Yoruba Race” ahead of other ethnic groups in terms of number of academics and professionals; such as: lawyers, Accountants, Engineers, Medical Doctors etc. The supporters of this view argue that the Region achieved much during the Regional Government. Chief Obafemi Owolowo established the first Television station in West Africa known as Western Nigeria Broadcasting station, the first Skyscraper in Nigeria, known as the Cocoa House, the premier Hotel, and Farm Settlements etc. The Sage Implemented Free Education and Healthcare for all the citizens of South-West. 

However, one can equally argue that the established of Development Agenda for Western Nigeria Commission (DAWN) which is made up of Lagos,Ogun,Oyo,Ondo,Osun and Ekiti states is a move towards that direction. The commission aims at fostering Regional Integration of the Descendants of the Oduduwa. The Regional integration, includes areas ; such as :Economic Development, Regional Cooperation, Synergy, Economic of scale, collaborative efforts on Security,Education,Transportation,Infrastructure,Roads,Rail,Water Transportation, Trade and Commerce linkages, Agriculture and sports The line of argument on this is that they all share cultural, Language, and Common heritage. In summary they believe the Region can only achieve great if the Regional system of Government which promotes competition among all the Regions is returned.

STATE POLICE: The dominant advocates on Community Policing in this country are from the South-West Geo-Political Zone. Due to the increasing need for better Security many people have been suggesting ways on how to address the problems. Nigeria faces Security challenges; such as: Kidnappings, Arm Robbery, Cattle Rustling, Farmers-Herdsmen clashes, ethno-religious clashes and Boko Haram Insurgency etc.

Furthermore, state police or community policing is becoming a global practice. It is equally true that community policing has the capacity to minimize our Security challenges but the skeptics of the idea have been raising concerns especially on the issues of the likely abuse by the powerful state Governors who might use them against their political opponents and another fundamental in respect of its is funding. The present National Police is not adequately funded by the federal government which has huge resources compare to the states which are battling with salary payments. Left to me state police is a very nice idea but the issues of politics and funding remains a great concern.   

So, the major arguments for returning to Regional Government are: Economic of Scale, promoting Competition among Regions, and Common Heritage etc. The above mentioned argument shows that the perspective of South- West on restructuring is different from both South- South and South- Eastern Nigeria.

Please come with me for the next perspective.

May God bless Nigeria!

Popular posts from this blog

ISRAEL V. PALESTINE :THE HYPOCRISY OF TWO STATES SOLUTION

ISRAEL V. PALESTINE :THE HYPOCRISY OF TWO STATES SOLUTION                             By:                 Nurudeen Dauda                October 19, 2023 nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com nurudeendauda24@gmail.com nurudeendauda.blogspot.com "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict"-Martin Luther King, Jr. Permit me to add my voice on the ongoing massacre of women, children, and armless civilians in Palestine. In my thought, it is not about who triggers the present massacre of the Palestinians , but it is time to talk about the 76 years of massacre of women, children, and the armless civilians of Palestine by the state of Israel which is being watched helplessly by the entire world. Before 1948, the Jews worldwide lived predominantly outside Palestine.They lived predominantly in easter...
Read more

INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY ON THE WAY

INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY ON THE WAY                                By:                          May 19th, 2023 nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com nurudeendauda24@gmail.com nurudeendauda.blogspot.com Barring any last minute changes a "bill" for the recognition of an independent candidacy will be transmitted to Mr president for his "assent". In my thought, if the "bill" is finally "signed" into law it will largely "checkmate" the "excesses" of "governors" and "moneybags" politicians who often denied "credible" candidates "tickets"in order to pave ways for their "anointed" ones no matter their weaknesses. In our modern day politics, we have had enough cases where "credible", "competent", and "popular" candidates loss primary elections due to lack of "money" or "godfather" or state governor's anointment.  In my thought, allowing independent...
Read more

ZAINAB'S ORDEAL: A CASE OF INSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESSES

ZAINAB'S ORDEAL: A CASE OF INSTITUTIONAL WEAKNESSES                         By              Nurudeen Dauda                May 5, 2019 nurudeendauda24@gmail.com nurudeendauda24@yahoo.com nurudeendauda.blogspot.com To begin with, there is now an alleged "drug cartel" in our airports which specialised in planting drugs on unsuspecting airtravellers. Of the six alleged members of the drug cartel arrested in connection with planting of Tramadol in a bag bearing Zainab Habibu Aliyu's name, three were said to be "clearing agents", two were said to be staff of a"security company" and one a staff of an "airline handling company". In my observation, the arrest of Miss Aliyu in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in respect of 2000 packs of "Tramadol" said to be found in a bag bearing her name has nothing , but succeeded in exposing our institutional weaknesses.Heads shoul...
Read more