Opinion
Voice of Emancipation: Why Nigeria Cannot Be Restructured
Published
4 years agoon
By
Eric
By Kayode Emola
January 15th 1966 marked the official beginning of the post colonial Nigerian tragedy, with the unsuccessful coup orchestrated by the five Majors. Their ultimate goal was to make Nigeria a unitary government without any consideration to the peculiarity of the country’s indigenous peoples. How can you ask such a country to become one, a country that has over 250 tribes and a multitude of languages, to ignore their customs, traditions and the very essence of who they truly are.
If we revisit event preceding the coup, we see that the five Majors orchestrating it were angry about the way the Fulani hegemony was running the country. Prior to the coup, the Fulani government of Balewa behaved as though Nigeria was their exclusive property. This is due to the way the British government handed Nigeria down to the indigenous people.
In the first republic, the British handed power to the Fulani north because of the skewed arithmetic of the confederation. Despite the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) having the least popular vote at that time out of the three major parties (the other two being the Action Group – AG – and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons – NCNC), they had the most seats (134 out of 312 seats available in the federal parliament), thus making them the favourite party to lead a coalition government.
As long as this system remains the status quo, the Fulani are happy to be part of the One Nigeria project. Were this arrangement of making the Fulani people the head of the government to be removed, they would be ready to walk away from the union. That was the dilemma faced by the British too, as they wanted to protect their agelong investment in Nigeria by any means possible. The only way they could do this was to secure the political machine of the Nigerian state, and in that they found the Fulani north to be their willing tool.
The handing over of Nigeria’s government by the British government to the Fulani was done deliberately to weaken the southern people. Firstly, even though the whole of the North combined did not get a majority of the vote of 1959, they were nonetheless handed the power to govern the country. Secondly, it should be noted that the Fulani are not the sole inhabitants of the north of Nigeria – there are over 100 tribes occupying northern Nigeria, further demonstrating that the Fulani have been flexing a muscle that they do not truly have.
After the January coup of 1966, knowing that they no longer had the manipulating strength of the federal government, the Fulani through their agents carried out a counter coup. This Araba operation – meaning secession – took place on 28 July 1966. The Fulani considered it better to withdraw entirely from Nigeria rather than living under the regional system of government agreed prior to independence. In their eyes, it was never about Nigeria but rather all about countrol, and so they have used this control mechanism to subjugate all other peoples in Nigeria.
It ought to surprise any right thinking person that a tribe of not more than 5 percent of the country’s population can so manipulate the rest that it has taken such a long time for the indigenous peoples of Nigerians to actually see what is happening. They deceived every other tribe in Nigeria into believing that they were the most honest and noble people, whereas in truth this was all guile. All in all, it can be said that the indigenous peoples let down their guard, and in so doing, threw away their thinking caps.
For the Yorubas, it didn’t matter who held sway at the helm of affairs in the federal government: it was convenient for tiny minority of Yorubas who benefitted from the rot in the society to make their gullible followers believe that Nigeria will one day be better. Instead of asking for real development for their people and holding the government to account, the Yoruba elders use rhetorics like restructuring to confuse the people, deluding them that the change they desire is about to materialise.
Let’s be clear, if Nigeria were to have been restructured, it should have been done in 1967 under the Aburi accord, shortly before the civil war. However it pleased the north to go into war with the Igbos because they had the support of the Yorubas and other southern tribes. Ojukwu’s sole motivation to lead the Igbos into civil war was for Gowon to agree to restructure Nigeria back into the federal system that it was prior to the January 1966 coup. Instead Gowon further balkanised Nigeria into 12 states, killing any hope of restructuring.
It is on this false pedestal that those canvassing for restructuring have found succour, seeking to ensure their share of the national cake is not diminished. It was obvious from the events of 1966 that the Fulani will not accept being part of a union over which they have no control. They would rather leave Nigeria than hand over the control of the government to another tribe. It is no wonder they are highly suspicious whenever a southerner is at the helm of any of the country’s affairs.
The recent agitation by the Yorubas for their own independent country has forced the proponents of restructuring to rethink their stand. It has now brought the restructuring question to bear, asking what restructuring can do. Nigeria as it is, structured with 36 states, cannot go back to the days where there will be a Yoruba Premier controlling the affairs of the Yoruba people. Neither will there be an Eastern Premier marshalling the affairs of the Eastern region like Ojukwu did. It will forever remain a dysfunctional country designed against benefitting the indigenous people.
Consequently, there is no wonder why the federal government and the Yorubas still clamouring for restructuring are now confused over what to do with the current agitation. Nigeria is already a failed state and unlikely to survive the current barrage of problems it is facing. As long as the Yoruba elders were still clamouring for restructuring, the Fulani oligarch believed their place was safe. The Yoruba people’s clamour for their own independent country will ultimately be the final blow to break Nigeria’s back.
The recent lawsuit by the River and Lagos states on reclaiming back the VAT on goods and services being generated in their respective states holds particular pertinence. Once these elements are taken out of the control of the Fulani, they will be the ones clamouring to leave Nigeria. The Fulani are profoundly disquieted by the concept of a united Nigeria where they are not in control, but as this is increasingly the mood of the other major tribes of Nigeria, it is safe to say that Nigeria is now on its way to disintegration.
I urge every Yoruba citizen to continue to press home their demand for a sovereign Yoruba nation. This is the only way we can ensure that the much needed socioeconomic development of our nation is achieved. We cannot afford to lose sight of this ultimate goal, which will secure the freedom and future of our children yet unborn. In this regard, I want us to know that no matter what, Nigeria cannot be restructured, and the only way out is for every independent tribe comprising Nigeria to go and form their own nation as they choose.
Related
You may like
Opinion
Skills Acquisition: Way Forward for Nigeria’s Educational Development
Published
5 days agoon
June 19, 2025By
Eric
By Ayo Oyoze Baje
“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways” – Robert Greene
As concerned Nigerians keep deliberating on the best way to navigate the twists and turns inherent in our education delivery system, if yours truly has his way secondary school students should be spending three days of each week for theoretical knowledge and two for practical skills development. These include skills such as tailoring/fashion design, hair dressing and carpentry. Others include building construction, painting, domestic farming, singing, acting, oratory and comedy.
This has become more expedient because in 2023, Nigeria ranked 100th out of 100 countries in Coursera’s Global Skills Report in terms of skill proficiency. Incidentally, the country also ranked low within the Sub-Saharan Africa, placed 12th out of 13 countries.In fact, other African nations such as Botswana and Cameroon outperformed Nigeria in the same report. This was an indication of a significant skills gap in the country. But recent indicators suggest an increase performance that should be built on. For instance, Nigeria showed the fourth-highest year-on-year growth rate for Professional Certificates enrollments on Coursera. This clearly suggests a growing awareness and participation in skills development initiatives which should be built on.
For instance, the unemployment rate in Nigeria stands at about 4.84% in 2025, according to Statista. com. This translates to an estimated 5.74 million people who are unemployed. Similarly, the youth unemployment rate is around 7.50% according to Trading Economics.
Given the current global influence of information technology, the expanding impact of Artificial intelligence ( AI ) and the soaring influence of climate change. Others include the increasing need to ride the freaky waves of economic survival, and the stifling space for employment, not only in Nigeria but across the globe. Yet, the country is abundantly blessed with rare talents in different fields of human endeavour.
Mention names such as Silas Adekunle, known for his robotics expertise and the world’s first intelligent gaming robot or Riya Karumanchi, who invented a device to assist visually impaired individuals the importance of skills acquisition in the development of the talents of our youth gradually dawns on us.
It is a similar scenario when the name of
Hassan and Hussaini Muhammad, who created a way to convert petrol, water, salt, and alum into hydrogen cooking gas crop up. And out there there are other young Nigerian inventors such as Khalifa Aminu (FM transmitter), Muazzam Sani (remote-controlled car), and the team behind the smart walkway light and automatic irrigation. The importance of skills acquisition cannot therefore, be over emphasized.
.
Put in its simple terms, skills acquisition is crucial for Nigerian students academic development, because it enhances their employability, as well as boosts entrepreneurship. In fact, it contributes to overall national development. According to experts on educational development it empowers students to be self-reliant, reduces poverty and unemployment, and also provides them with a global perspective.
The impact and import of students’s skills acquisition is amply deployed in Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun state. There, students are exposed to the practical aspect of whatever course they are studying such that seasoned professionals are invited to deliver the practical aspect of their theoretical knowledge.Such is the impact that engineering students have become problem solvers. They have constructed pavements, fences, designed and built solid infrastructure.
Furthermore, the Centre for Agricultural Technology and Entrepreneurial Studies (CATES) has come up as a key initiative at the same university. As a noble cause it was established to foster practical, solution-oriented approaches to agricultural and entrepreneurial development within the university and the wider community. The skills promoting aspect of it is that CATES focuses on areas such as poultry technology, aquaculture, cassava farming, and mushroom culture. It also operates a vegetable farm and a plantain farm on campus. All these explain why graduates of the citadel of knowledge become self employed, with several of them kick starting the process right from the University as undergraduates. All these boost their financial independence while they contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
Skills acquisition therefore,
increases employability, more so in today’s competitive job market. Having relevant skills makes students more attractive to employers. These include skills such as digital literacy, communication, and problem-solving, which are highly valued across various industries.Entrepreneurship programs teach them how to start and manage their own businesses. This eventually, leads to economic growth and improved living standards with appreciable Human Development Index, HDI. By equipping students with practical skills, skill acquisition programs can assist to lift individuals and families out of the terrifying trap of poverty and ultimately reduce the unemployment rate for the country.
From the global perspective, many skills are transferable across borders. This is one good lesson learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigerian students can latch on it to participate in the global economy through remote work or international collaborations. It also fosters confidence in students, assist them to adapt to the global socio-economic dynamics,while instilling a sense of accomplishment in them, thereby contributing to overall personal growth.
Of great significance, is that
a skilled workforce is essential for the nation’s economic growth and technological advancement. Overall, the skill acquisition programs contribute to building a more productive and innovative society. So Nigeria work on the report which highlighted specific skill areas where it lags, especially technology and data science.
Nigeria should also learn from countries that stand out for their high levels of skill acquisition and development. These include Northern European nations such as Finland, Norway, and Sweden which consistently rank high, along with Switzerland, Singapore, and Germany. These countries often prioritize education, training, and creating opportunities for their populations to acquire and utilize a wide range of skills. As rightly noted by Malcolm X: ” Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today”.
Related
Opinion
The Unsung Patriots: When Integrity Stands Above National Honours
Published
1 week agoon
June 14, 2025By
Eric
By Sani Sa’idu Baba
Nigeria’s Democracy Day ought to be a solemn reminder of the sacrifices, resilience, and commitment of individuals who have stood tall in the face of tyranny and injustice. It is a day that should celebrate not only democracy itself, but also the patriots who have preserved its fragile flame. Yet, in what many see as a deliberate and politically motivated omission, several Nigerians of high calibre, unimpeachable character, and unassailable contributions to nationhood were left out of the national honours list announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
This omission is not a matter of oversight. It is a calculated decision that speaks volumes about the political insecurities within the corridors of power. One name that resonates profoundly in this discourse is Chief Dele Momodu, adopted son of the late MKO Abiola, a journalist, publisher, presidential aspirant, and fearless voice of the people for over four decades. Chief Momodu is a man who has not only chronicled Nigeria’s history but has lived and shaped it through his unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and democratic ideals.
Let us be honest, this is not about merit. If it were, Chief Dele Momodu’s name would have featured prominently on that list. This is about fear, fear of principled rejection. It is about avoiding the kind of national embarrassment that befell the Buhari administration when internationally acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie openly declined a national honour because she believed it lacked genuine integrity. Her rejection was not out of arrogance, but from a place of conviction, a deep sense of responsibility not to allow her name to be used as an endorsement of a government she could not, in good conscience, support.
President Tinubu’s government, undoubtedly aware of Dele Momodu’s outspokenness and principled stance, likely feared a repeat of such rejection. Because men like Chief Momodu would not want to accept such honours from those who have allegedly turned our hard earned democracy into a civilian dictatorship. For him, a national honour must be more than a political gesture, but a reflection of national values, a reward from a government that truly serves its people.
Chief Momodu has never been one to seek validation from the powerful. His life’s work has been about amplifying the voices of the voiceless, challenging injustice, and standing firm even in the face of exile and persecution. That is who he truly is. I believe that he will happily accept a national honour from a government that embodies the ideals of democracy not one that plays lip service to it. It’s only a matter of time!
This June 12, as we mark another chapter in Nigeria’s democratic journey, we must also reflect on the kind of leadership we celebrate. It is not enough to decorate the loyal and the silent. True honour lies in recognising the bold, the honest, and the principled even when their truths are uncomfortable.
To Chief Dele Momodu, and others like him who continue to walk the path of integrity, your absence from the national honours list is not a dishonour. In fact, it is a badge of honour in itself. For in a time where sycophancy is rewarded, your principled silence, your steadfast commitment to truth, and your refusal to compromise, speak louder than any medal ever could. Nigeria sees you. History will remember you.
Your recent 65th birthday celebrations which was meant to be simple and low-key but turned into a well organised global celebration all in your honour speaks volumes.
May your integrity continue to inspire a generation that refuses to trade truth for personal gains.
Happy democracy day…
Dr. Sani Sa’idu Baba writes from Kano
Related
Opinion
Nigeria’s Reforms Have Put the Country on the Global Economic Map
Published
2 weeks agoon
June 8, 2025By
Eric
By Abdul Samad Rabiu
As my country steadies itself, Britain, its Western allies and their companies should deepen this partnership
As ghosts of the 1930s haunt the global outlook, the scramble for trade deals has seized control of government agendas. The United States has leveraged its “tariff war” to secure better terms, driving both friend and foe to the negotiating table. British deals with the US and India have provided some refuge from the prevailing gloom.
Less reported – but with similar potential – was last year’s signing of the Enhanced and Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) between the UK and Nigeria , the former’s first such agreement with an African nation. Quiet in its arrival, the pact may yet echo louder.
As someone who has built multinational businesses across Africa, I know the vast opportunity the continent offers, and Nigeria in particular, which alone accounts for a fifth of sub-Saharan Africa’s 1.2 billion people. But I also understand the limitations we have often placed on ourselves when it comes to securing investment.
Lowering barriers to trade is crucial, and for that Britain’s ETIP looks prescient. However, investment and business potential will remain discounted as long as African nations cling to state intervention – from subsidies and price controls to exchange rate distortions – all of which have consistently bred dysfunction and economic instability. Fortunately, Nigeria has now decisively turned a corner, embracing market economics under a liberalising government.
In Morocco this week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy indicated Britain’s position is shifting too. Setting out his strategy for Africa, he said British policy must transition from aid to investment. “Trade-not-aid” is no new idea – but it is the first time a British government has so clearly echoed the demand the African continent has voiced for years.
In making that shift, Nigeria is taking the lead for a continent to follow. So many Nigerian administrations I have known have been hostage to economic events, doubling down time and again on state intervention rather than having the conviction to reform. This administration is proving different. After two years of difficult reforms, Nigeria – under President Bola Tinubu – is now poised to fulfil the promise of its vast natural resources, rapidly growing population of over 200 million people, and strategic coastal location along the Gulf of Guinea.
First, the Tinubu administration removed a crippling fuel subsidy – the most significant policy reform in years. At 25 to 30 cents per litre, petrol in Nigeria was among the cheapest in the world. But the subsidy was bankrupting the government: by 2023, it consumed over 15 per cent of the federal budget – roughly equivalent to the proportion the UK spends annually on the NHS.
When President Tinubu ditched the fuel subsidy on his first day in office, criticism quickly followed. Prices, at least for the time being, have risen. However, statistics must be understood in light of the wide-ranging distortions the subsidy created.
Officially, fuel consumption in Nigeria has dropped by 40 to 50 per cent. But that is not because Nigerians’ petrol use reduced by this amount. In reality the country was subsidising the region, with cross border fuel smugglers profiting from arbitrage. The illegal trade was so blatant that on a visit to neighbouring Niger a few years ago, then-President Mohamed Bazoum even joked about it, thanking Nigeria for the cheap fuel. Though the move was politically unpopular, the subsidy had become unsustainable. Now, spending is being redirected toward development and infrastructure – laying the foundations for long-term growth.
Second, the country has moved from a fixed to a market-determined exchange rate. Previously, only select groups could access the official rate – especially those with political connections; the rest had to rely on a more expensive parallel informal market determined by supply and demand. But selling dollars at an artificially low rate only entrenched scarcity, a problem compounded by an opaque exchange mechanism that deterred foreign investment.
Every two weeks, we used to make the 12-hour drive to Abuja to seek dollar allocations for imports – camping out at the Central Bank for three or four days. Now, I no longer need to go. I’ve met the new Governor only once in two years – because I haven’t had to. Monetary orthodoxy has finally arrived, bringing with it the liquidity that both domestic and foreign businesses depend on to smooth trade and de-risk investment.
Third, the shackles of politics are being prised from business, bringing greater certainty, fairness and stability to the landscape. Five years ago, I woke up one morning to find that the port concession for a new venture of mine had been revoked. It turned out my company was outcompeting a friend of an official of the Nigerian Ports Authority. In the end, it took then-President Buhari’s personal intervention to save the enterprise.
Had I not been politically connected, the business would have folded – along with the 4,000 jobs it provided – at a time when job creation was, and remains, Nigeria’s most urgent challenge. Today, such connections are no longer necessary. The playing field is being levelled, flattening the political ridges and dips that once skewed the game.
Many of these reforms required political courage to withstand the force of criticism. Prices rose as distortions were removed, yet the administration held firm, even as vested interests co-opted public discontent for their own ends.
Indeed, many of the benefits of reform are still to be felt by the wider public. But economic fundamentals must be fixed before that becomes possible. That lead-time often tempts market reformers to reverse course, or avoid reform altogether. Now that Nigeria has made it through the toughest phase, its direction should be clear to investors.
For Britain, the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership with Nigeria was a strategic bet on reform, resilience and long-term reward. Nigeria is now delivering its part of the bargain. As my country steadies itself, the UK, its Western allies – and their companies – should deepen this partnership.
Abdul Samad Rabiu is a Nigerian businessman and philanthropist
Culled from Daily Telegraph (UK)
Related


Supreme Court Empowers Trump to Restart Deportation of Migrants

Abuja is Safe, Peaceful, FG Counters US Security Alert

Rebels Without a Cause! Oborevwori, Eno; Who’s Next?

James Barnor @96: Sights and Sounds of the 2025 HACSA Sankofa Summit in London

Tears, Thanksgiving As Family Commits Matriach, Olori Grace Omolola Adebiyi to Mother-Earth in Ekiti

Woman of Steel: Kemi Koyejo Redefines Auto Business in Nigeria

Access Holdings Tops in Asset Quality in Proshare’s 2025 Tier 1 Banking Rankings

Just In: Drama in Senate As Invaders Take Maze Away

Nigerian Engineer Wins $500m Contract to Build Monorail Network in Iraq

WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Will Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Join Presidential Race?

World Exclusive: How Cabal, Corruption Stalled Mambilla Hydropower Project …The Abba Kyari, Fashola and Malami Connection Plus FG May Lose $2bn

Rehabilitation Comment: Sanwo-Olu’s Support Group Replies Ambode (Video)

Fashanu, Dolapo Awosika and Prophet Controversy: The Complete Story

The Great Gani Fawehinmi: His Life, His Legacies & His Frustrations

Who are the early favorites to win the NFL rushing title?

Boxing continues to knock itself out with bewildering, incorrect decisions

Steph Curry finally got the contract he deserves from the Warriors

Phillies’ Aaron Altherr makes mind-boggling barehanded play

The tremendous importance of owning a perfect piece of clothing
Trending
-
News7 years ago
Just In: Drama in Senate As Invaders Take Maze Away
-
News7 years ago
Nigerian Engineer Wins $500m Contract to Build Monorail Network in Iraq
-
Featured7 years ago
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Will Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Join Presidential Race?
-
Boss Picks7 years ago
World Exclusive: How Cabal, Corruption Stalled Mambilla Hydropower Project …The Abba Kyari, Fashola and Malami Connection Plus FG May Lose $2bn
-
Headline7 years ago
Rehabilitation Comment: Sanwo-Olu’s Support Group Replies Ambode (Video)
-
Headline7 years ago
Fashanu, Dolapo Awosika and Prophet Controversy: The Complete Story
-
Boss Picks7 years ago
The Great Gani Fawehinmi: His Life, His Legacies & His Frustrations
-
Headline7 years ago
Pendulum: Can Atiku Abubakar Defeat Muhammadu Buhari in 2019?