Wednesday,January 17, 2018 6.00PM / Proshare WebTV 

North West 
Meanwhile,the North West can harness its vast arable land by deploying land-enhancingtechnologies for mechanized agriculture and cattle ranching, while alsobecoming Africa’s defence manufacturing hub. 

Withthis arrangement, the zone will then be provided sufficient competitive impetusto revive its historical potential as a central hub in Africa’s textileindustry. 

North East
TheNorth East will have the opportunity to redefine its identity from being ahotbed of Boko Haram to becoming a hub for cattle ranching as well aspharmaceutical and construction  industries, harnessing its uniqueconcentration of mineral resources such as clay, limestone and gypsum. With itsnew-found liberty to develop at its own pace, 

South West
Forthe South West region, it can revive the vision of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Thezone will not just resuscitate its vast industrial and agro-alliedmanufacturing potential; it can become a global centre for warehousing anddistribution with its world-class sea and airports. Its intellectually awarecosmopolitan social class can become the catalysts of an African culturalrenaissance that will facilitate the rise of new genres of creative andcultural industries. Meanwhile, within the zone, Lagos State can consolidateits position as the African hub of global finance. 

South South
withits vast oil and gas resources, currently sustains the nation’s expenditure.Nigeria owes this region the urgent activation of the pragmatic approach torestructuring.

Thisapproach will see the zone progressively obtaining autonomy over theseresources such that it can house a cluster of refineries and petrochemicalindustries. In addition, it can recover from its history of environmentaldegradation to harness its agro-allied industrial potential. It can alsoincubate a renewable energy cluster and become an African shipping hub.  

South East
TheSouth East is home to a large population of vibrant entrepreneurs. In additionto potentially hosting a globally competitive agro-allied and energy industrialhub, it can, once again, break records in commerce and industry, and export tothe world, innovation, enterprise, and an energetic human resource ready toconvert opportunity anywhere in the world in the interests of our nation andcontinent. With this approach, within ten years, from a near unitary structurecomprising thirty-six states, these geo-economic zones can then evolve into sixstrong federating geopolitical zones and a Federal Capital Territory, roughlymirroring the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Fellow Nigerians,another important season is upon us as a nation, as a people, and as custodiansand protectors of our collective national heritage. 

Way forward for Nigeria
Anation should indeed be more than just a mere geographical expression: itshould be the sum total of all its peoples, joined together by shared history,values, culture and aspiration, fused into a national ethic and an ingrainedsense of identity. Failure to embrace this wise option, brilliantly articulatedwith patriotic fervour in 1947 by the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his book,Path to Nigerian Freedom, is at the root of the unfortunate challenges we facetoday as a people. Indeed, there is nothing anyone, however cerebral or highlyplaced, can do against the truth, but for the truth. 

Ourfounding fathers embraced the challenge of nationhood in their season bysecuring independence from the so-called colonial masters. Our military hasplayed their role, good and bad, in shaping national direction for aconsiderable portion of our nationhood. The current political class has doneits part by facilitating our return to civil rule.

Now,it is the turn of Nigerians: professionals, artisans, students, soldiers,policemen, para-military, academics, market women, drivers, youth, both theemployed and the unemployed, as well as every Nigerian who is not an activebeneficiary of the present disorder. It is time for a DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION. 

Theseason for complaints and complacency is over. We must seize this opportunemoment to translate our collective national disappointment into a uniquelyNigerian REBIRTH. The current political class constitute far less than onepercent of Nigeria’s voting population. 

Toavoid engagement with the powers that have hijacked our collective patrimony isto surrender our national 27 destiny without a fight. And as Cardinal JohnOnaiyekan said: “Every citizen must be involved in politics…Only people who areirresponsible will say they are not interested; even if you are not interestedin politics, politics will be interested in you.” 

Ourfight to reclaim and renew Nigeria begins now. Registering and obtaining avalid voter’s card must now be a national priority. If the 2015 elections werecritical to our national survival, the 2019 polls are pivotal to our country'sfuture development. If power truly belongs to the people, it is time for thesilent majority to instigate REAL AND GENUINE CHANGE. 

Presidential Commission for National Reconciliation
AsI have declared on previous occasions, what is required to kick-start thisprocess is the creation of a Presidential Commission for NationalReconciliation, Reintegration and Restructuring45. This commission is to beheaded by a biblical Joseph-type national figure appointed to provide visionaryleadership for the process with the support of six Zonal Commissioners. 

Thevisionary leadership will co-ordinate the implementation of master plans foreach of the six geo-economic zones. It will evolve for the nation a stronganti-corruption-based national value system and stir up uncommon patriotic zealamong Nigerians. It will also attract various domestic and foreign investmentpackages and 28 float a social impact bond to fund development. 

Therequisite human capacity for the economic miracle will be provided not only byskilled Nigerians at home but also by many others based abroad through Diasporafor Development agreements guaranteed by goodwill and fuelled by uncommonpatriotism. To facilitate the process, the National Assembly will provide therequisite constitutional amendments within the ten years in addition to servingas a monitoring and evaluation clearing house. 

Bythe tenth year at the latest, the systems, values and structural underlay ofthe geo-economic transformation will be codified in a new constitutionalarrangement whose preamble is the Nigerian Charter for National Reconciliationand Integration adopted by the 2014 National Conference. 



Thenew constitution will be adopted by the Nigerian people through a referendum,such that it can genuinely lay claim to the prefix, “We the people of theFederal Republic of Nigeria…” 

Conclusion
Asa nation, we have an opportunity to rewrite our history and choose a moreprosperous future. We can choose to continue to play the ostrich or we candecide to take up the gauntlet and face our national challenges squarely. 

Justas Moses said to Israel in Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV): “I call heaven and earthas witnesses today against you, that I have set before your life and death,blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendantsmay live…” 

Letit be known, however, that the New Nigeria is like a moving train that cannotbe stopped, like a stone that will cause the wicked to stumble, and like a rockthat will make them fall; and whoever falls on this stone will be broken, buton whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder, and this nation will fulfillher destiny. 

Ihave said my piece. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear: Nigeria will besaved, Nigeria will be changed, and Nigeria will be great in my lifetime.