Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president has
said there is a need to restructure the
federation of the country.
Speaking on Monday, December 12, at the
public presentation of a book titled ‘Nigerian
Federalism: Continuing Quest for Stability and
Nation-Building’ in Abuja, Atiku said the current
system is what is ruining Nigeria and the
individuals running it.

He said currently, Nigeria is constituted as an
entity that is rooted in corruption, impunity and
injustice and thus must be reconstituted.
“Political and civic leaders from across the
country must come together, discuss, negotiate
and make the necessary compromises and
sacrifices needed to restructure our federation
to make us a stronger, more united, productive,
and competitive country,” the former vice
president stated.
According to him, there is a flaw in the
country’s constitution which was why there is a
recurring cry of marginalization from every
section of the country.

“No section of this country can claim correctly
that its people are better served by the current
structure of our federation. When we were not
dependent on oil revenues and when the
federating units had greater autonomy of action
and were largely responsible for their affairs,
they, that is our regional governments, did not
owe workers their salaries for several months,”
he said.
Atike stated that there were too many weak and
unviable states and what the country needs are
stronger federal units.
He said what got the country to its centre-
dominated federal system is political
expediency and fear.
“What I find odd is the argument that we cannot
renegotiate our union and every demand for
restructuring is an attempt to break up Nigeria,”
he added.

Atiku noted that the call for restructuring does
not mean a call for Nigeria to break up, but only
a call for the imposition of a system where
transparency, efficiency and equity will prevail.
The former vice president challenged those who
against restructuring the country’s federal
system as it currently stands, to show an
example of countries that are functioning well
with a structure such as Nigeria.
He said each nation has to work out what
federal system is best suited for it and in the
case of Nigeria, it is disingenuous if not outright
dishonest to say that the system is not the
problem.
Atiku has been advocating for Nigeria to be
restructured. In July, he insisted that
restructuring Nigeria is the only solution to the
problem confronting the nation. He urged the
different components to look at restructuring as
a solution, adding that he was a believer in the
existence of one Nigeria.
However, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is
against calls for country the to be restructured
as that is not the solution to the country’s
problem. He said the best move was to
diversify the economy.