Nigerian Govt urged to make restructuring top priority in 2018

A political scientist, Dr Taiye Agbalajobi, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to consider the calls by Nigerians for restructuring of the country as top priority in 2018.

Agbalajobi, who lectures at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.

She said that the call became imperative as “populism was becoming the dominant basis of communication and inter-relationship between government and the governed.

“Global politics is being shaped by populist aspirations, and it is expected that President Buhari will follow suit.

“Amid the several development challenges that confronted Nigeria in the last days of 2017, Federal Government’s concession to popular demands will improve its legitimacy.

“We are at a time in history that government’s desires must of necessity be in line with a substantial part of the wishes of generality of people,” she said.

Agbalajobi said that restructuring of Nigeria was likely going to be a key campaign topic in the 2019 general elections.

According to her, governments that pursue personal agenda not aligned with popular wishes, risked legitimacy and acceptability of its policies by a large segment of the country.

“Protests and demonstrations will be widespread in countries in which fundamental differences exist between public policy and citizens’ wants,” she said.