Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has warned that
Nigeria must embrace the restructuring of the country’s
political and administrative system before it is too late.
He said restructuring through national dialogue will allow
for greater decentralisation and devolution of powers and
therefore address the growing agitations ubiquitous in the
country.
The governor stated this on Thursday during the 60th
Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of
International Affairs in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum spoke on
the theme, ‘Fixing Nigeria For A Better World’.
Fayemi said the agitations and discontent being felt in
parts of the country are evident of the structural
challenges the country is facing, adding that they can be
discussed and amicably agreed upon through effective
dialogue.
He said, “Nigeria must as a matter of urgency undertake
the following steps for a better world:
“Embrace political restructuring through a national
dialogue process before it is too late. The discontent and
agitations that are being felt in parts of the country are
symptomatic of structural challenges that can be
discussed and amicably agreed upon when all constituent
units of the Federation come together to discuss and
agree on what the Nigeria of their dreams means.
Addressing the national question will only ensure that we
are on a path to greatness and will generate the sense of
unity of purpose required for us to attain our best
potential;
“Undertake concerted efforts towards revamping
structures and instruments of our foreign policy. Here, I
refer to modernizing and adequately funding the Federal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, our Missions abroad, as well as
institutions such as the NIIA, NIPSS and IPCR. Ensuring
that our most gifted hands are recruited into our Foreign
Service and related institutions will only result in a better-
informed foreign policy machinery.”
Of late, agitations have increased in Nigeria, especially in
the Southern part of the country with the proscribed
Indigenous People of Biafra led by Nnamdi Kanu; as well
as Yoruba Nation separatists led by Sunday Adeyemo aka
Sunday Igboho. Both groups are agitating for the
secession of the South-East and South-West regions
respectively from the Nigerian State. They have
complained about perceived injustices, lopsided
appointments, insecurity, amongst others. Both Kamu and
Igboho have been behind bars for months and are facing
terrorism-related charges.
