Abuja lawyer flays calls for restructuring by the elite

*Says proper restructuring should affect lives of average Nigerians

An Abuja based lawyer, Barrister Abdulakeem Usman Mustapha (SAN), has condemned the calls for the restructuring of the country being dictated by the elites but noted that he is totally in support of proper restructuring that would affect the lives of average Nigerians on the street.

Barrister Mustapha told Daily Times in his Abuja office that Nigerians should not allow the elites hoodwink them with their cry for restructuring the country adding that it is very clear that their definition of restructuring is different.

He said having toured the 36 States of the federation and Abuja, he can boldly say without fear of contradictions that Nigeria is such a fantastic country but her people talk more of the things that divide us than the things that unite us.

According to him, “All these agitations are elitist thing. There is no part of the country you will not see an Igbo man residing and doing his business, living peacefully with the Hausa man, Yoruba man and or Tiv. This thing goes to a Hsusa man who you will see any part of the country selling his suya while the Yoruba man is everywhere driving his taxi and they all cohabit.”

He noted that though there are glaring reasons for us to sit down and discuss our future, the elites who are fuelling the agitations are doing so because of selfishness which arises when they disagree on the sharing formular for our commonwealth.

The legal luminary noted further that there is no segment of the country today that is not complaining of marginalisation.

“People from South East are complaining of being marginalised. I am not disputing it but if you look at it very well, those suffering from marginalisation are those from the far north. There is massive poverty there and that is why they are easy prey and victim of Boko Haram and violence of every kind.”

He insists that the political elite that feel cheated or shortchanged quickly fall back on these ones what willing tools to cause crisis in the country.

He maintained that proper restructuring that will shed the weight of the centre and empower the Local and States governments should be encouraged.

“How can the federal ministry of works fix all the roads in the country from Abuja. I can’t imagine how the Nigerian Police handle all the policing in the country without community policing. The few number of policemen in the country have already being distributed to the government officials and politicians so there few to police the citizens.”

Barr. Mustapha argued that restructuring, as defined by the elite, cannot do the average Nigerian on the streets any good, maintaining that what they are clamouring for is sharing of political and government portfolio and not the welfare of the people.

Arguing further he said what the country needs now is good governance that will provide the basic amenities for the people whether in the South East, North, South West or anywhere in the country.