Former Secretary-General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani says the real aim of those clamouring for restructuring is to make Nigerians feel like they are in different countries.
He said that restructuring has become a nebulous concept because those pushing for it fail to clearly define its parameters.
Sani said any political party promising to restructure the country if elected in 2023 must first spell it out in its manifesto rather than paying lip service.
“Because restructuring means different things to different people, any political party that wishes to restructure the country should be more specific by articulating it in the party manifesto and use it to canvass for the electoral mandate needed for execution.
“Mentioning restructuring glibly is not enough,” the ex-ACF scribe told The Punch.
He said it was not true that the North was afraid of restructuring, noting that the region stood to gain much from it.
Sani said, “The North is never afraid of restructuring. We only say the problems of the country may not be with its structure but collapse of national ideals and moral values.
“This is because Nigeria has been restructured several times, be it geopolitical, form of government and model of economic development.
“For example, we started with three regions and now have 36 states. We have tried all forms of government like parliamentary, military dictatorship and presidential system. We have tried state capitalism, mixed economy and have now privatized the economy.
“More distressing is the narrative by some sections that the country be restructured to enable sections of the country develop at their own pace.
“Such people want Nigerians to live as if they are in different countries where some sections are on cutting edge and some others on knife edge of survival.
“And they do so in blithe disregard for the fact that inequality is not attribute of good governance by purposeful leadership. Balanced development is hallmark of good governance.