Nigeria at risk of becoming failed state if we don't restructure now - Atiku

Atiku Abubakar, former vice president, has warned that Nigeria may become a failed state if the country is not restructured to tackle some of its foundational issues.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain made his position known through an article he posted on his Facebook page on Monday, January 25.

The former vice president likened the current ethnoreligious clashes bedevilling Nigeria to symptoms of a disease, adding that Nigeria must find a way of resolving its challenges in order to be on the path of "peace, unity and prosperity."

Atiku, who stated that restructuring is the only solution to the myriad of the problems facing Nigeria, maintained that the reality of injustice is "staring us in our collective faces."

He noted that Nigeria has been "operating from the same unitary foundation" and has given it several names since January 15, 1966, which are of no results.

"Nigeria needs to restructure to avoid the various failed state prophecies, first advanced by an American think-tank against Nigeria in 2006.

"Nigeria is not a failed state. However, we are at risk of becoming a failed state, if we do not resolve our foundational challenges that make it rather difficult for the central government to discharge her responsibilities effectively.

"We should have done this long ago. I can only point to the Chinese proverb that says “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Meanwhile, Osita Okechukwu has alleged that the PDP is planning to push for the restructuring through unconstitutional and illegal means

According to the director of Voice of Nigeria (VON), the opposition party is using the situation of the country especially in the aspect of security to gain power.

Okechukwu, who spoke via a statement on Sunday, January 24, also berated the PDP, saying the opposition side is "on deceptive power-grabbing binge by aligning with Pull-Down-the-Roof crowd."

The founding member of the All Progressives Congress also stated that President Muhammadu Buhari did not renege on restructuring as the PDP tried to confuse Nigerians