As Nigeria inches closer to the 2027 general elections, the clamour for restructuring has reached a fever pitch.
The Apostolic Round Table 2025, a gathering of prominent stakeholders, has added its voice to the growing chorus, emphasizing the need for a fundamental overhaul of the country’s federal structure.
At the heart of the debate is the conviction that Nigeria’s current constitution is inherently flawed, perpetuating inequality and division among the country’s diverse ethnic and religious groups.
Dr. Victor Ohia, chairman of ART 2025, minced no words in his assessment, citing religion and ethnicity as the twin evils undermining national unity.
The diagnosis is stark, but the prescription is clear: restructuring. Proponents argue that a revamped federal structure, modeled after the 1963 constitution, would devolve power to the regions, promoting greater autonomy and inclusivity.
This, in turn, would foster a sense of ownership and participation among the various stakeholders, bridging the yawning gaps between the haves and have-nots.
But restructuring is not merely a technical exercise; it is a moral imperative.
As Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi, convener of ART 2025 noted, the current system is rigged against the majority, favouring a privileged elite at the expense of the marginalized. The call for restructuring is, therefore, a call for justice, equality and human rights.
The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction are dire. Nigeria’s very existence hangs in the balance, as the centrifugal forces of division and discontent threaten to tear the country asunder. The time for rhetoric is over; the time for action is now.
As Nigeria stands at the crossroads, the choice is clear: continue down the path of fragmentation and instability or embark on the journey of restructuring and rebirth. The ART 2025 has sounded the clarion call; will Nigeria’s leaders heed the warning and seize the moment?
