RESTRuCTUrING:WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT? - BY JOHN DANFULANI

RESTRUCTURING: WHY IS THE NORTH RELUCTANT?

                                 By

                         John Danfulani, Ph.D
                         Johndanfulani@gmail.com

So far, major pan cultural clusters of Southern Nigeria like Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Ibgo et al  have added their receptive voices to the quest of restructuring the dysfunctional and poorly designed political structures of Nigeria. These groups and individuals are aggressively pressing their positions and prescribing how Nigeria political structure and power vested on each layer of authority should be  . All their discussions are littered with the usual concepts like; true or fiscal federalism, resource control, regionalism, weak centre,state police, and revenue sharing formula.

Whilst  Southern Nigeria groups and political juggernauts are patriotically adding fuel to the flame of restructuring discourses, two reactionary and retrogressive  northern Nigeria groups called Arewa Consultative Forum( ACF) and Arewa Elders Forum(AEF) are singing a discordant tune. And hatching sundry conspiracy theories on a very popular advocacy that its time is at hand. To these groups peopled by elements that killed the mission of Nigeria's founding father on their alter of greed and corruption, southern Nigeria groups orchestrating the project of restructuring have a short gun in their sleeves. In a plainer  language, ACF/AEF kingpins and their docile followers believe the South had made all necessary preparations to stage the final mass for Nigeria. And ready to use any national dialogue or discussion forum to actualize their mission of ending the British colonial masters 1914 contraption called Nigeria.

On a separate front, northern Nigeria self appointed ultraconservative ideologues in the media are busy diverting attention with their doomsday predictions and parochial narratives that the problem isn't with  political structures and allocation of powers thereof  but poor leadership and corruption. Leading this cream of ethno-religious jingoist is an old Nupe journalist turned Hausa-Fulani Mr. Mohammed Haruna who in recent times wrote two discouraging articles in his syndicated columns titled "Atiku Abubaka's Formula For A "True Federation, and In Defense Of Osinbajo". Other lightweighted  Northern Nigeria tusks like Bala Mohammed(On Restructuring:Another View), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed( Beginner's Guide on Restructuring) and Sani Abubakar (Restructuring Nigeria: Be Careful What You Wish For, Or How You Demand For It) joined the fray. Because of their biases and outdated mentality of we-are-born-to-rule,they tactically supported the status quo. Their concomitant insincerity denied their discourses the intellectual depth capable of engineering further ding dongs on this matter of national importance.

These ultraconservative northern elements shackling on the myths and realities of yesteryears opposing calls for restructuring knows the quantum of injustice their political and military cabals meted on other Nigerians, right from time immemorial. That accounted for a bull headed resistance to any advocacy that seeks a redress to the present lopsided and terribly skewed  political structures of Nigeria.

If the North is not hiding something or unduly benefiting from what all can see is holding the nation back, why the resistance? We have read and seen them talk on how the former Northern Region built its economy from groundnut and cotton pyramids. Is their lands no longer arable enough to stage a repeat of building an economy on proceeds of pyramids? We all know that they are afraid of a likely resolution that will allow states control resources found in their domains. They are afraid of questions that will inquire the formula used in creating 44 LGAs in Kano while Lagos has less despite surpassing the later in population.The north is afraid of others rejecting the anachronistic system of creating grazing reserves in other place instead of ranching by those who owns the cattle. We know, as well as they do, that they are afraid to answer questions bordering whether the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or some holy books that will guide our actions as a people in country called Nigeria.

ACF/AEF and their corrosive penman sandwiched in a single news outlet that  its mission is spreading ethno-religious sentiment and supremacy and their young recruits can run but they can't hide. Their negative disposition to this raging quest for restructuring  is a waste of time because they are only postponing the evil day. The momentum is too good, because  all well meaning Nigerians are fire up. And had already rolled up their sleeves in readiness for the show. No amount of diversionary machanism will quench this blazing fire of restructuring.

Mr. Atiku Abubakar told his northern kith and kins the truth and the whole truth  by saying they better agree to talk about the future of Nigeria on a round table to avoid talking in some unpredictable situations. I totally agree with Mr. Abubakar's take.

Usain Bolt Roared into Olympics history.

Usain Bolt roared into Olympic history here Sunday, capturing an unprecedented third consecutive 100m crown to confirm his place in the pantheon of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen.
The 29-year-old Jamaican legend, competing in his final Olympics, powered over the line in 9.81sec, vanquishing drug-tainted American rival Justin Gatlin who took silver with Andre De Grasse of Canada claiming bronze.
Gatlin, who had been booed by the Rio crowd as he was introduced, crossed in 9.89sec with De Grasse just behind in 9.91.
Bolt galloped away in celebration after a superb win, basking in the adulation of the stadium and even taking selfies with fans during his lap of honour.
He then delighted the fans with his traditional “lightning bolt” pose as reggae blasted out of the stadium sound system.
The victory left Bolt standing alone in the 120-year history of sprinting in the modern Olympic games.
No other athlete — man or woman — has ever won three consecutive individual Olympic sprint titles.
It also leaves Bolt on track to complete an incredible “triple-triple” of clinching 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for a third consecutive Olympics.
Bolt, the 2008 and 2012 Olympic champion, had already earned the right to be regarded as the greatest sprinter in the history of athletics after accumulating more golds on the track than anyone else.
But the Jamaican’s latest triumph erases any last lingering doubts that he deserves to be ranked alongside the likes of Muhammad Ali, Pele and Michael Jordan as the kind of once-in-a-generation athlete who transcend their sports.
Bolt’s win — his 18th gold in Olympic and World Championships since 2008 — averted what might have been a public relations disaster for the drug-tarnished world of track and field.
A corruption scandal involving the sport’s former rulers, who were accused of accepting bribes to cover up positive drug tests, and an investigation which alleged an elaborate state-sponsored doping system in Russia have plunged track and field into the worst crisis in its history.
A gold medal for Gatlin on Sunday would have made uncomfortable viewing for many — world athletics chief Sebastian Coe among them — who have advocated that serial doping offenders should be banned for life.
But those fears were swept away by the smiling, laughing figure of Bolt, for so long the sport’s most charismatic showman.
Gatlin, who has served two drug bans during his long career, made a powerful start to lead over the first 50 metres.
But as soon as Bolt’s head came around the midpoint the American was in trouble and the defending champion surged home around a metre clear of the field.
AFP