Shettima Usman Yerima, the national president of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), has a strong conviction that restructuring is the panacea to the myriad of problems confronting the nation.
In this interview with Razaq Bamidele of The Nigerian Xpress, the vocal Kaduna-born rights activist and public commentator contended that those opposing the restructuring are ignorant of its benefits to the generality of Nigerians.
Yerima also spoke on other issues of national interest including the 2023 election, zoning system and the quest of the younger generation to take up the leadership role in 2023.
Do you agree that Nigeria is in a mess?
Yes, I agree. We are in a big mess far beyond what we can imagine. It is a time for sober reflection. Patriotic Nigerians should come together to rescue Nigeria. It is now obvious that if we don’t come together to save the country, nothing is impossible at this time because we are faced with a major challenge in this country where people are not sure of their safety any more.
Unemployment has increased in triple form than what it was in the past. Insecurity has marred the country. Poverty and hunger are ravaging the country. And it is naturally expected that when unemployment is high, the rate of crime would also be high. So, I pray that something urgent would be done because, with the handwriting, I am seeing on the wall, if necessary measures are not taken immediately, we are likely to run into a bigger mess later. And I am not praying for that.
What are the immediate steps you are talking about?
I mean those who are in charge of the country should immediately start to work hand in hand with all the major stakeholders across the country and beyond to salvage the country. Those in power should be reminded that this power they are wielding today is transient and they should also know that, to an extent, they are governing human beings and not animals. They should be told that people must have a say in the affairs of the government concerning them because it is a public matter. But if those in power think it is their problem, at the end of the day when the problem escalates, the public and the society would just stand aloof and watch them carry the problem alone and that would be counterproductive for the nation and the people.
But when those in power make it an all-inclusive issue, certainly people would rally round them to make contributions to the workings of the government. And they should know that people do not necessarily need to be in government to make contributions. Certainly, a lot of us outside the government are ready to make contributions and work with the government on the positive side of the policies that would make them govern properly and ensure the good for the public. We can work on how we can advise them because we are always in touch with the people. So, at the end of the day, the country would remain calm and peaceful while the people would identify with the authorities on the positive side of governance.
But in a situation where people are excluded from taking part in governance and where they see people who are not with them as enemies and presume that those not in government with them cannot contribute positively, is not a good idea and it should not be so. Every society you see today all over the world, those in government are not seen to be more knowledgeable and wiser with a monopoly of wisdom than the people outside. People outside the government make a lot of contributions to the running of affairs and thereby make the government succeed. The success is because of the act of inclusiveness in play. I expect Nigeria to imbibe such art of inclusiveness where the people would be carried along in the day-to-day activities of the government. With that, we can move along together on the same page.
But when you begin to presume that everybody is your enemy, and you think you can do it alone, then, the society would just watch as you continue to fumble and you would not know you are fumbling until you are out of power. It is then you would realise your folly because you would leave power one day since power is transient! You would now begin to express regrets that, ‘had I known, if I had known, I didn’t know that I was fumbling’ and so on. And that would not be accepted by the society for an excuse for your failure and the disaster wreaked on the society. So, let us be seen as doing it right. The country needs all hands to be on deck. This is the time all of us should bear it in mind that there are agents who are working round the clock for this country to disintegrate. And they keep increasing by the day.
However, to some of us who believe in this country, we still have hope for the country. The Nigeria issue should be brought to the table so that we can discuss it together. I mean those of us with positive minds should come together to fight out the enemies and agents of destabilization. The county must be saved together because I am afraid, if this country balkanizes, the consequences would be worse than what one can imagine.
With the precarious situation in the country, is it okay to start talking about 2023?
Even as precarious as things are in the country today, it is not senseless or out of place to talk about 2023. This is because we have a situation where some of the people who are nursing ambitions see the man at the helm of affairs today as not having anybody in particular in mind. Indeed he hasn’t. President Muhammadu Buhari I know may not likely stand behind anybody and say, ‘I am backing you for the race.’ So, you have to go out and fend for yourself. So, having placed the cards on the table, naturally, you would see every Tom, Dick and Harry showing interest to succeed him.
And some of them have begun to bid for it now. You and I know that the life span of any elective office is four years. Naturally, that makes the third year strategic for proper planning. The fourth-year is always for politicking and electioneering. So, already, don’t forget this government is in its second year of the last four years. It is expected that people would be positioning themselves for the coveted seat. In that regard, for me, there is nothing abnormal about it though serious challenges are facing the country now.
Mark you, the presidency is like a beautiful woman placed in the centre of a market place where people would come to woo her for various reasons. Some would want her as a wife, some as a concubine, some as an ordinary friend and some just to admire and leave her alone. That is what is happening now in this country.
However, I believe strongly that this is the time Nigerians must decide. In all honesty, this is the time for a decision. I believe if we can still work together, we can still improve and overcome some of the challenges in 2021 and beyond. I still have hope.
Yes, I am hoping there would be 2023. I am hopeful 2023 is possible. But saying that doesn’t automatically mean that 2023 is certain. I believe in this country with total commitment to it.
Where do you stand on the issue of restructuring?
Of course, for us who have insight into what restructuring is all about, we have been advocating it over 15 years. And we believe that restructuring of the polity in this country is the only way out of the quagmire we currently found ourselves. It is obvious we cannot rely on the centre now because the burden is too much for the centre. So, for me, restructuring is not new to me because I have been an advocate of the matter all along. And I stand any day, any time for restructuring. That is the best way out of this quagmire.
And those who entertain fears that it would lead to disintegration are ignorant of what restructuring is all about. If Nigeria could not break in the early 60s when we ran a loose centre not as strong as it is now, it cannot break now. In the 60s, Nigeria was highly united, people respected one another, there was healthy competition, and there was a cordial relationship among leaders like Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others. The leaders managed the country properly and they did very well.
It is those who are ignorant of how to do it that are entertaining the fears of disintegration. For us, it pays to restructure the polity for the good of all.
What is your take on the call for the younger generation to take over in 2023?
I am one of the voices. I still stand firm on giving the younger generation a chance to govern this country. Some of us have a major role to play to ensure that we have a younger generation to come on board. We are determined to mobilise our younger generation across the board from all parts of the country and make sure that anybody that may likely come up would be very young with intelligence and capacity to deliver. That commitment has come to stay.
As for the age bracket, we are looking out for 45/50/55 or 60 years as the highest. But preferably, I will stand on the side of 45/50. Even if the age bracket I stand for is against me, it is fine because it is not about me but about the generality of Nigerians.
To some of us, we know who would not be president going by the age criteria we set. But we don’t know yet who would be among the younger generation. It is too early now to start announcing names. But I can assure you, at the right time, the cat would be let out of the bag. Thank you.
Would zoning be part of the criteria?
Definitely no! Zoning is not constitutional. So, it won’t be binding on anybody. Zoning is totally out of it because it has been taken over by events since 2011. What is before us now is how a young and capable hand would come on board as president in 2023. And we would mobilise to ensure that, that comes to be.
