Why Atiku Must Not Politicise Call For True Federalism by Idris Usman

The raging debate for the restructuring of the country has continued to take centre stage of discuss just like in the past in the recent time. That nonetheless, one thing have distinguished the latest call from the calls of the past.
Before now, the call for restricting has always been known to be a demand of a segment of the Civil Society organization and socio political groups mostly from the Southern part of the country such as the then NADECO, Afenifere, Ijaw National Congress, Ohaneze etc.

But now, this call has
won more converts and advocate across the Niger, having as its advocates, prominent figures from that part of the country, which has historically been opposed to the call for the restructuring of the country.
Of recent, notable politician and former Nigeria’s Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has continued to add his voice to the call for the restructuring of the country. As laudable as this may sound and the value it may add to this agitation for a return of our country to the path of true federalism, one is forced to raise concern about the sincerity of apostles of restructuring like Atiku Abubakar.
Could it be that the momentum being gathered by this call has been seen by Atiku as a veritable ground to Launch a political campaign towards his undying ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria?
It is my strong opinion that if the call for the restructuring of the country is by any means politicised, then the clamour for restructuring the country for better economic performance would soon fizzle out except the necessary steps are taken in that regard to ensure its actualisation.
Whosoever is genuinely committed to the call for true federalism must first put aside political ambitions and align with the thought of those who are demanding that without restructuring, Nigeria must not go to the 2019 general elections.
We must be ready to go beyond the ordinary voice support to restructuring, which, in no way is different from what the man on the street is saying. Mere support for restructuring carries no weight. Men like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must work with their friends and loyalists within the National Assembly to adopt the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference and other relevant documents as a whole.
They must be ready and practically support the restructuring of Nigeria, considering that Nigeria is held hostage by the 1999 Constitution.
Until this is done, what men like Atiku are currenty engaged in doing will end up as a mere academic exercise.
Usman wrote in this piece from Akure 

 ref: http://leadership.ng/opinions/563845/why-atiku-must-not-politicise-call-for-true-federalism