No need to restructure Nigeria, says ex-education minister

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and immediate past Minister of State for Education, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has said there is no need to tamper with Nigeria’s current political structure.

Nwajiuba, who spoke with newsmen on Monday in Abuja, also said he would welcome the party’s decision if it decides to adopt consensus as a mode of nominating its presidential candidate for the 2023 poll.

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He said everything centres around good governance and not the structure, adding that he would use his blueprint to tackle the socio-economic and security challenges bedevilling the nation if elected president.

“What is it that I want to restructure? The borders of Nigeria are known and are defined and accepted internationally in the world.

“Restructuring obviously can’t be talking about landmarks, the issue is governance. It is the question of landmarks or the resources? Since 1999 this Nigerian Constitution is restructured.

“I ask, is there something a state does with its citizens other than service and tax?

“That is how citizens and state relate. Is there anything you will like to do in Nigeria that the law says you can not do? It’s not. If you want to build a refinery there is a process, you just need to apply.

“Remember we were three regions, by 1966 war was fought over this matter. When the military took over they said we don’t want the situation, it is better everybody creates states. They are no longer ethical. Nigeria had to create states to unbundle the structure as a way to stop a civil war again.

“To a large extent, they have succeeded. So, something must be right with the new structure. What do you want to restructure?

“Is there any limitation to what a state governor can do? Nigerian governors are the most independent governors in the world. If anybody knows the income that they generate in the states that they transfer to Abuja they should say so.

“Nobody has ever compelled any state to generate one income and send it to him. It is for the states to try and generate as much as they can. So when they keep saying let’s revert to the thing that killed us I said it is good to know a book but read it.”