PERSPECTIVES TO RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA IN THE SEARCH FOR LEGALLY VIABLE MEANS OF EXTRICATION

Abstract

Since the emergence of the current political regime in May 2015 with a four-year tenure, agitation for restructuring has gained magical momentum, spontaneously and simultaneously, across the country; though with different tilts, as suits the peculiarities and/or interests of the agitators.  The promise to restructure Nigeria was a major component in the manifesto of the ruling party that resonated with majority of the polity, which eventually enhanced its ability to topple the preceding ruling party.  About three years down the line, restructuring remains a mirage for manifest political reasons, among others, leaving the polity distraught and sometimes sharply divided; with the term ‘restructuring’ becoming virtually nebulous and engendering more futile debates than ever envisaged.  Against this backdrop, this paper explores the various perspectives proffered for restructuring Nigeria, by distilling the major perspectives into two: dominant and suppressed perspectives.  This is with a view to drawing attention to the meaning/concept of restructuring; locating/discerning why the views on restructuring are divergent; what are the underlying factors for the aggravated clamour for restructuring; and the envisaged legal and socio-political consequences of restructuring, vis-à-vis propositions for legally viable means of extricating the country from the myriad quagmires threatening to submerge her if drastic measures to salvage the current abysmal situation are not urgently taken.

Keywords: Nigeria, Restructuring, Perspectives, Legal & Socio-political Consequences