A cheap political crunch word that is getting much attention and relevance in Nigeria politics today is the Restructuring of Nigeria. In as much as its a noble quest that can only bring a solution to the already perceived political marginalisation of some regions. Yet, beyond this restructuring comes the need for mental restructuring.
Corruption we all know, pervades all the ties and fabrics of our national values and norms as a dangerous cankerworm, and it's a problem that cuts across ethnic divides, religious affiliation and social strata. The human mind by default have the yearning, propensity and inert tendency to doing evil. Thus, when there is no purposeful mental restructuring, the cries that led to the call of restructuring will continue to scream and even louder.
A corrupt politician is still corrupt, no matter where he finds himself. He will always try to discover loopholes and legal inadequacies to perpetrate his evil schemes. Since there is no perfect legal structure that can forestall man's penchant for evil, it becomes pertinent for us to have a sober moment of turning around our lives for good. Hence, the need for mental restructuring.
No doubt living a corruption-free life may not be easy yet it's possible, for where there is a will there is a way.
Embezzlement of funds is a daily news we see in our newspaper mast heads. What assures us that if in this nation we go the way of fiscal federalism, that embezzlement of public funds will come to an abrupt end? Oppression of the poor, stealing from the less privileged eg the Internally Displaced Persons, substandard projects and inflation of project costs, and other corrupt vices, will all these come to an end if we have a restructured Nigeria?
Yes, I support Fiscal Federalism. However, we are looking beyond it at an aggregate level to individual level.
We need to have a mental restructuring that is anchored on selflessness, patriotism and love for one another. In as much as the status quo of corruption remains, our call for fiscal federalism will still lead to the empowering, more of our political elites to the detriment of the poor masses who should have been the immediate beneficiaries of the gains of fiscal federalism.
Our inability to restructure our mental psyche to be patriotic citizens will be akin to one who sold a monkey to buy a dog, which we all know makes no meaning, as the joys of fiscal federalism will still remain elusive.
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