Nigeria at 66: PDP Lagos Gov Candidate, Adetokunbo Pearse Calls for Restructuring

Nigeria at 66: PDP Lagos Gov Candidate, Adetokunbo Pearse Calls for Restructuring

By Our Reporter

Lagos State Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Adetokunbo Pearse, has called for the restructuring of Nigeria, arguing that decentralising political power would promote peace, security, unity and economic development.

The PDP guber candidate made the call in a statement marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lagos, saying that Nigeria attained independence in 1960 with great expectations, but argued that the country’s subsequent political crises showed the need to revisit the structure of the federation.

According to Pearse, the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had warned before independence that the North was not sufficiently prepared for self-rule because of disparities between the regions in education, human capacity, infrastructure and economic development.

He said Sir Bello’s position was not opposition to Independence but a call for fairness and equity in the management of the emerging Nigerian federation.

Dr Pearse recalled that Bello’s proposed eight-point agenda advocated a decentralised system in which the regions would have greater autonomy to manage their affairs and develop according to their peculiar circumstances.

He argued that the failure to adopt such a structure contributed to the collapse of the First Republic, while the attempt by the military government of General Aguiyi Ironsi to impose a unitary system, in his view, contributed to the tensions that culminated in the Nigerian Civil War.

The PDP candidate also criticised the current federal system, saying that the democratic arrangement in place since 1999 had concentrated excessive powers and resources at the centre.

“Government power must be decentralized and authority devolved to the states through the six geopolitical zones,” he said, arguing that such an arrangement would enable federating units to utilise their natural resources for development.

The PDP standard bearer said Nigeria’s pre-independence regional government structure had demonstrated that greater autonomy for the federating units was possible.

He also called for the implementation of recommendations from the 2014 National Conference convened under former President Goodluck Jonathan, saying that a restructured federation based on the recommendations could help address the country’s challenges.

According to him, restructuring would put Nigeria on a path towards greater peace, security, unity and economic growth.

"It was the failure to embrace Ahmadu Bello's suggestion of a decentralized government structure that led to the collapse of the First Republic. It was the determination of General Aguiy Ironsi to impose a Unitary Government on Nigeria that led to the Nigeria - Biafra Civil War. 

"The democracy practiced in Nigeria since 1999 is no different from a Unitary system because of the unduly high concentration of power in the hands of the Federal Government. 

"Government power must be decentralized and authority devolved to the states through the 6 geopolitical zones. With this structure, the Federating units will be able to use their natural resources for their own development.

"The Regional Government structure worked well for Nigeria before independence. A restructured system along the lines recommended by the National Confab organized by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014 will put Nigeria on track for peace, security,  unity, and enhanced economy," he stated.

Looking ahead to the 2027 General Elections, Dr Pearse urged Nigerians to support candidates and political leaders who had demonstrated commitment to restructuring.

He said electing leaders committed to restructuring would represent a renewed expression of Nigerians’ desire for genuine independence and a more balanced federation.

"In less than six months, Nigerians will be going to the polls to vote in a new government. Electing government officials who have shown a commitment to restructuring will be our way of expressing a true desire for independence," he said.