Frontline female politician and former governorship candidate in Lagos State, Chief Remi Adiukwu, in this interview with Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, talks about failure of successive governments to address the unending agitation for true federalism.
What is your take on the ongoing restructuring debate?
Restructuring means different things to different people in Nigeria today. It is a term that is now very misunderstood. It is only due to this misunderstanding of the term that we will still be seeing people who openly oppose the call for restructuring. By the time you interview six people, you are likely going to have six diverse meanings and or explanations for the same word.
For me, restructuring is another simple way of describing true federalism. The reorganization of the status quo, hopefully for a better result, is what I understand restructuring to mean. But this is not what some people see it as. There is no other way to better explain the term in the context of what Nigerians want and what Nigeria needs now than to equate it to true federalism.
Is restructuring also the same as Constitution amendment?
Not at all. I told you it is better to describe it as the return to true federalism in the socio-political arrangement of the country. That is not the same as mere constitutional amendment. It is far more than that. Constitutional amendment is one of the ingredients needed to make restructuring possible. There are others like referendum etc.
For me, restructuring is more than just the redistribution of power, resources etc in the country. That is what this is all about to some people. That is why somebody can tell you resource control is the solution to the country’s problem. Others will say it is zoning that will solve all our problems. I don’t think so. I believe these are just part of the issues we need to consider when discussing the whole issue. True federalism will address all these and more.
Why has it been difficult for successive governments to address the issue of restructuring in spite of unending agitation year in year out?
The agitation for restructuring is as old as our democracy, if not older. It is strange that no government has successfully addressed the call. But if you ask me, I will say it has been a deliberate omission on their part. It is not possible to say that no government understood the call enough to address it. That was definitely not the case.
Rather, I will say it is because the ruling parties benefit from the present arrangements. With the centre as strong as it is now, any ruling party would not be very eager to make a change. The power at the centre is quite enormous and anyone ruling will not want to whittle this down. Making the required change will need great selflessness and patriotism.
And what Nigeria lacked all along are selfless and genuinely patriotic leaders. Unless we put such people who will look beyond personal interest and group satisfaction and consider national interest above party interest, it will be difficult to get a ruling party or government that will holistically and genuinely address the agitation for restructuring.
How best do you think the country can handle the issue of restructuring?
There is no better way than for us to sit down and discuss the issue as a people. That is the only way because it has become an issue in Nigeria and we cannot wish it away. It must be handled with maturity and wisdom. Let there be a referendum first and then move to other stages. For once, the people, and I mean the real people, must be allowed to say what they want.
It is when we allow the people to talk through a referendum that we can now decide on what next to do. Let us take the many requests to the people. Let us ask Nigerians what they really want. It is when you know what the sickness is that you can proffer the right medications. We cannot continue to assume what should be okay for the people. Let us seek their candid opinion and act on that.
Do you also think it is only the National Assembly that should be allowed to amend the Constitution?
No, I don’t think so. The issue confronting us is more than just that. If we want a lasting solution, we must do more than the usual. We cannot continue to do things the same way and now sit down expecting different results. We must go out of our way to find the best way to address the issue holistically. It is when we do that that we can get the right answers to the many questions confronting us as a people.
We have had several constitutional amendments in the country. Has that solved the problem? The answer is no. So, I think we need more than just that. If we say it is only the National Assembly that will amend the constitution and that will solve the agitation for restructuring, we will be engaging in great fallacy that will return to haunt us.
What’s your opinion of Nigeria at 57?
Nigeria at 57 is still experimenting. Infrastructure development is still at base level. Education is wobbling and fumbling. Power has not improved. One can go on and on. But the truth is that we give God the glory, we remain one. That we are still one united country is something to rejoice about. We have had so many scary situations in recent past that it is worth thanking God that Nigeria is still one country.
You are a chieftain of the opposition party. What do you think PDP should do to reposition itself as a strong political platform?
It is no gainsaying to say our party is repositioning itself for serious political business as a leading political party in the country. But to ensure that PDP should reconcile all factions in all states. But in the same vein, those who had proved beyond any doubts that they have no good intentions towards the party should be sanctioned.
The party must henceforth be bigger than any individual or group within the party. Those who want to be leaders through the courts should leave the party for us to have peace. It is when we have ensured that across the country; we do not have contending factions or groups within the party that we can say PDP is truly ready to return to winning ways.
How do you see the reconciliation effort in PDP?
The reconciliation process, so far, is quite encouraging. The States are happy with the way and manner the Committee is handling the reconciliation process. Our people in Kwara and Osun States are indeed so happy and satisfied about the reconciliation effort that they posted pictures on social media. We saw factional leaders coming together to take pictures.
The same thing is happening in many states across the country. The members are abandoning factional leadership and returning to the PDP. This is helping to unite our party and if we continue along this laudable line of action, soon, we will no longer hear of factions in PDP. We need reconciliation very seriously. It is the way to go.