The Director of the
International Institute of Journalism, (IIJ), Abuja, Emman Shehu, in this interview, bares his mind on the contentious issues of restructuring and devolution of powers. He also proffers solutions to Nigeria’s current challenges. Excerpts:
PT: What is your position on the rising calls for restructuring and devolution of powers in the Nigerian polity? What do you think this means?
Shehu: As you rightly noted, restructuring has become a difficult topic in Nigeria today. There is no clear definition of what restructuring means. It starts from one extreme to the other: the extreme of fracturing the country into as many parts as possible from one extreme of breaking up the country into countless fragments like a China plate dashed on the floor, to the other extreme of going back to the old regions.
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Leadership acumen is not by age but by the wisdom and understanding to lead in the midst of complexity. The effort of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde in the academic sector has aptly shown his leadership acumen. Recently, he rescued the International Institute of Journalism, Ibadan campus situated at the NUJ press centre Iyaganku from a land dispute between the institution and a strong politician that would have rendered the institution homeless if not for the intervention of God through him.
The governor settled the matter amicably while the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Ademola Babalola also played a significant role to ensure the recovery of the IIJ property.