El-Rufai: Those who advocate abandonment of existing political structure are unrealistic

Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna says, says those seeking a “wholesale abandonment” of the existing political structure in the quest of restructuring the country are “probably unrealistic” in their expectations.

Speaking at Chatham House in London on Thursday, el-Rufai said Nigerians appreciate their diversity but seek a fairer system that puts social justice above everything.

The governor explained that this could be achieved under the current constitutional order as the Buhari administration has already begun giving responsibilities and increasing involvement of sub-nationals in national economic policy making.

He said another way a “fairer system” can be achieved is through constitutional and legislative actions of the national and state assemblies.

According to him, both are already pursued but in a “haphazard manner”, hence the need for the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on restructuring.

“As I have argued since 2012, there is no doubt that the Nigerian federation is unbalanced and in dire need of structural re-balancing,” el-Rufai said.

“This I think we all agree as Nigerians, but the devil is in the details. While some advocates of wholesale abandonment of the existing political structure are probably unrealistic in their expectations, I believe most Nigerians appreciate and cherish our unity in diversity but seek the enthronement of a fairer, meritocratic system that puts social justice above everything else. It is not very hard to achieve this.

“Under the current constitutional order, such a system can be achieved peacefully either (i) gradually as shown by the Buhari administration’s devolution of responsibilities and increasing involvement of sub-nationals in national economic policy making or (ii) more rapidly through constitutional and legislative actions of the national and state assemblies well before the 2019 general elections.

“Both options are already being pursued albeit in a haphazard manner, hence the need for our committee. Our expectation as a governing party (and government in office) is that the voice of Nigerians – particularly young people – ought to set the agenda for what is desirable in creating a country where there are equal opportunities for all, and where peace and justice reign. The insistent din of the vocal political minority should not drown the new voices of the majority, many of whom are young and apolitical.”

The governor hoped the committee’s approach would “attain the goal of getting to the very heart and soul of the restructuring debate through the lens of the ordinary Nigerian”.

“There is an opportunity for Nigerians to advance, discuss and refine ideas for adjusting the exclusive list, minerals and mining rights, the local government system, choice of national VAT versus sub-national sales taxes, population census and re-demarcation of federal and state constituencies based on the 2006 Census – all matters that are long overdue for deep reflection and reform,” he said.

“This nation-building exercise could also encourage consensus for introducing state constitutions, state police, appeal and supreme courts, creation or merger of states, reviewed tax powers, and reinforcing state government control over land by vesting mineral rights in the states, subject to federal royalties, export duties and taxes.”