The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, has joined the queue of Nigerians calling for restructuring.
Rev Martins said this while speaking in Lagos on Tuesday as he marked the 35th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
The cleric wondered why the country’s leadership are against the concept.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to show his resolve to move the nation forward by revisiting the recommendations of the Governor El-Rufai-led Committee on restructuring.
“I wonder why anyone should be afraid of restructuring, especially since what it means in practical terms is devolution of power to the states in areas that are critical to the development of the country as a whole,” the Prelate revealed.
“After all, the country is nothing but the sum total of its constituent parts, and the growth of each constituent part sums up to the growth of the country.
at is the concept of true federalism that we are supposed to be practising.
“The system of governance, allocation of human and natural resources, as presently practised, concentrates too much power at the centre, and is not suitable for a country as richly blessed and as diverse as Nigeria.
“It leaves many of the States unable to harness their human and natural resources to maximum benefit.
“I have said it severally, and will continue to affirm that the present structure that we practise as a nation is counter-productive and unable to guarantee the development that we desire.
“Many of the states are far from solvent; workers’ salaries are not being paid on time; there are no viable industries to create employment or opportunities for small and medium scale industries to thrive in many of these states.
“A good number of our graduates are either hawking pure water on the streets or driving Keke Napep to eke out a livelihood.
“No wonder there is so much youth restiveness! It is sad that in this age and time, we allow ourselves to be blinded by tribal, ethnic and religious sentiments instead of seeking the common good for the benefit of all.
“We must stop retarding our own progress but begin to provide an enabling environment for the various States of the country to harness the natural and human resources at their disposal and grow wealth.”
