By Nnamdi Ojiego

As move to restructure Nigeria gathers momentum, the Directorate of Concerned Patriots in Nigeria, DCPN, has cautioned against regional restructuring, emphasizing that going back to regional government would never resolve the challenges confronting the country.

The group, instead, called for the restructuring of Nigeria into a nation with sovereign states, united under a new name, the United States of Nigeria, USN. It emphasized that the proposed restructuring was aimed at re-adjusting operational principles that have hindered the nation’s development, rather than disintegration or breakup.

Addressing the media in Lagos, Wednesday, DCPN President, Prophet Wale Olagunju, urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the pressing issues facing Nigeria, rather than focusing on increasing taxes and reducing purchasing power of the citizens.

Olagunju, who is the Presiding Bishop of the Divine Seed of God Chapel Ministry, noted that restructuring has become expedient to put an end to the lingering crises and agitations that have plagued the country since the Biafra war in 1970. He stressed that the current system has failed to address the needs of the people and has instead led to poverty, inequality, and instability.

The prophet highlighted 17 key areas that require urgent attention, including fixing Nigeria’s power problem, reducing fuel prices, enhancing agricultural mechanization and food security, ensuring security of lives and property, and creating job opportunities for the youth. He also called for the removal of immunity, the enactment of laws to curb corruption, and the provision of free and qualitative education at all levels.

According to him, the proposed restructuring would involve the creation of a sovereign nation with 36 sovereign states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, united without any form of division as each state would have its own sovereign power, authority, and ability to rule and govern its territory independently.

Olagunju cited the examples of the United States of America, USA, and the United Arab Emirates, UAE, as models for the proposed restructuring, and emphasized that “this system would promote autonomy, competition, grassroots development, and innovation among the states, while also protecting the rights and freedom of citizens.”

The benefits of this restructuring, he explained, include the promotion of unity and social inclusion, reduction of poverty, instability, and inequality, and the protection of the rights and freedom of citizens. He also emphasized that this system would allow for the development of local governments.

The cleric called on the government to embark on a national reconciliation process, followed by a national referendum or confab, to pave the way for the restructuring of the country. He emphasized that this is a critical moment in the history of Nigeria and that the country must be restructured to avoid another civil war.

In his words, “What we are advocating for, is for our leaders to come together to renegotiate the nation based on sovereign states under the United States of Nigeria just like the United States of America and the United Arab Emirate. This is the time that President Tinubu and his ministers, governors, members of the National Assembly and other critical stakeholders including past leaders, can come together and restructure Nigeria into a sovereign country with sovereign states.

“The most important reasons for this call is to put a permanent end to agitations for break-up of Nigeria and also put an end to the many lingering crisis and injustices bedevilling the country. We just have to tackle this issue of agitation now to avoid another civil war in Nigeria.”

Also speaking, Dr. Oriade Daniel, the National Secretary of DCPN, added that restructuring Nigeria into sovereign states would mitigate long-standing issues like tribalism and corruption.

According to him, “When each state governs itself, tribal tensions can reduce, and localized governance can help curb corruption and promote grass root development. The Nigeria unity remains intact if only we can embark on what we’re proposing; a new Nigeria will definitely emerge.”