Nigeria Since 2014: Restructuring or Dismemberment?

Abstract

Since gaining political independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria has been plagued by series of agitations by different interest groups. Lately, is the growing demand for the restructuring of the country, which, prior to the National Conference of 2014, was regarded as sectional and treated as an irritant by the federal government. Those clamouring for restructuring, however, found strong support for their demand in the report of the 2014 National Conference, which provided for states wishing to merge to do so in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Following the release of the report, agitations and counter agitations have not only continued unabated but grown in intensity and become better aggregated, engulfing the six geo-political zones of the country. A clear line of division has emerged. Whereas opinion leaders in the three geo-political zones in southern Nigeria clamour for restructuring, those in northern Nigeria (save for a few) are vehemently opposed to it claiming acceding to the variously expressed terms of restructuring would inexorably lead to the dismemberment of the country. The core demands of the agitators for restructuring include resource-control and devolution of excessive powers of the government at the centre. This paper discusses restructuring within the context of the ongoing debate; examines the core issues under consideration, noting the reasons for the sharply differing positions taken by the opposing groups. It also considers the supposition of the protagonists that, if achieved, restructuring would end all problems hitherto blamed on the current political structure of Nigeria. The paper integrates the expressions of opinion leaders as well as those of informed non-political actors as reported by mainstream media in discussing this subject.