Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made another call for the restructuring of federating units as the solution to the myriad of challenges befalling Nigeria.
Speaking on Friday at the virtual Sobo Sowemimo Annual Lecture organised by Abeokuta Club, Obasanjo said progress would not be made if calls for restructuring are not heeded.
The lecture was titled “COVID-19 Pandemic and Nigeria Security Issues: the way forward”.
“Let me lay more emphasis on the issue of security, which in itself is serious enough to make restructuring imperative. The south-west governors cried out and devised Amotekun as a solution or part-solution,” Obasanjo said.
“We have yet to see how successfully that will be operated. Other zones are clamouring for a solution because in no state and in no geopolitical zone is life and property safe and secure.
“Criminality is the order of the day. And it cuts across the entire nation. Insecurity is one issue of commonality among Nigerians, no matter their tribe, language, religion, geographical location, gender, age or social position.
“I leave out economy which is in the doldrums and fighting corruption where you see more heat than light and which is festering like a bad sore.
“That, to me, is what reform of federating units and restructuring is all about and not about break-up or disintegration.
“I remain firmly convinced that without reform of federating units, as I will like to satisfy those who may not like the word ‘restructuring’, Nigeria will remain insecure, unstable, non-progressive and stagnated at best or disintegrated at the worst.”
On the post COVID-19 era, the former president called for proper attention to food availability, security, employment and economic diversification.
