Extract of Atiku Plan Part 1 : On Restructuring Nigeria

The structure of the country as it is, is not working properly as it should. This
indeed is the reality. If we are to grow into a strong, competitive and
prosperous economy, we must re-structure the economy and the polity.

We
must adopt a new economic management model that will cure all the
federating units of this addiction to oil revenues. Through constitutional
means, we must strive to establish a new political structure that reinforces the
concept of 'true federalism' by conceding unfettered autonomy to the
subordinating units and ensuring government accountability at all levels.

Nigeria's unity is being threatened by internal conflicts, agitations, restiveness,
insurgency, and religious intolerance. Our unity as a nation has been fatally
bruised in the past because there had been pretences about how it would be
structured. Social cohesion is being eroded, democratic consolidation being
undermined and national unity and security threatened by ethno-religious
tensions and disputes over titles and entitlements.

Today, Nigeria and
Nigerians suffer from terrorist attacks in the North, militancy in the Delta and
communal violence in the Middle Belt. There are cult wars in the South,
kidnappings, armed robberies, and everyday acts of thuggery throughout the
country.

Nigeria needs a unity that is transparently and collectively negotiated and
agreed upon. This is the only way to douse the divisive tension and neutralize
the negative elements of identity politics, which create a morbid environment
of “we” against “them” with its attendant impetus for desperate struggle to
control leadership. We need to restructure our polity.