Nigerians Have Been Poorly Served By Successive Leaders

Mr Akin Oyebode

Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence, Mr Akin Oyebode, has stressed the need for restructuring, saying that Nigerians have been poorly served by past leaders.

Mr Oyebode said this on Monday during a special programme on Channels Television to mark Nigeria’s 58th anniversary.

He said, “Well, in 1960, I was just 12 years old and we had dreams. 58 years later, we’ve been poorly served by the succession of leaders that we’ve had”.

When asked what form the restructuring should take, the professor stated that there have been various suggestions. He, however, stated that a major aspect would be reducing the power at the center.

“People have different attitudes to restructuring.

“There were two suggestions, one by the late Alex Ekwueme to reconstitute the Nigerian Federation into eight geographical zones and the other by General Abacha who wanted six geopolitical zones in terms of constituting the federation.

“The jury is still out on whether we should be six geographical zones or eight.

“We want the Federal Government to shed weight,” Mr Oyebode said.