Bode George to Tinubu: The Supreme Court has sparked a revolution; complete restructuring is required Now.

The Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday to prevent State Governments from keeping and using money intended for councils, the third level of government, is a major victory for democracy as well as for the political and economic advancement of Nigeria.
The supreme court’s ruling was clear and unambiguous: councils headed by democratically elected officials must receive allocations to local governments directly from the Federation Account.
The judiciary has once again demonstrated why it is the average person’s last hope.
This brave ruling by the supreme court will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the development of democracy in the largest democracy in Africa and the most populous Black nation in the world.
This brave decision will also promote transparency and strengthen democratic values locally.

I also read President Bola Tinubu’s statement hailing the verdict and talking about restructuring.
I want to advise the President that he must go further because what Nigerians want is a complete overhaul of the polity.
That is the only way Nigeria can work.

Nigerians want TOTAL RESTRUCTURING.

This will lead to decentralisation of power,
fortify our democracy and ensure that dividends of democracy reach all Nigerians anywhere they may be in the country.
For any country to develop, there must be a strategic plan for a Bottom-Up Approach to governance, not the other way round.
We cannot be doing the same thing, over and over again, and expect another result.

For instance, in many developed countries, how many airports – international and local – are controlled by the Central Government? Jackson Airport in Atlanta, the United States (U.S.) is one of the busiest and most profitable airports globally. It is controlled by the Atlanta City Council.
What of Sea ports?
A major challenge in Nigeria is that almost everything is overcentralised.
Many States in the U.S. have Supreme Courts and that is where legal cases in such states end, not in Washington D.C. In Nigeria, all cases must go to Abuja.
Here, for something as minute as mining gold in any part of the country, somebody must approve in Abuja. So, how do we want to develop Nigeria?
Look at Lagos State with 20 local governments. Ogun State also with 20 local governments. Every month, money will be sent to 20 councils in Lagos and 20 councils in Ogun and we all know the contributions of Lagos State to national development.

Why should Lagos and Ogun have the same number of councils?
Lagos and Kano states were created in 1967.
Jigawa was later carved out of Kano. Today, Lagos has 20 councils, Kano 44 and Jigawa 27. So, in essence, after 57 years, the old Lagos still has 20 councils while the old Kano (now Kano and Jigawa) has 71. Where is the justice in the system?

I strongly believe that states should determine the number of LGs they want. Also, what is the business of the Federal Government with parks? What exactly is the business of the Federal Government with livestock, agriculture, water, even education?
What is the business of governors with markets?
We want a new Nigeria where development starts from the grassroots. Everything must change. Nigerians are losing patience. Everything here is centralised.

The Supreme Court has started the revolution.
This is the right time to rejig our Constitution in full.