It is good for the republic that many other eminent Nigerians have been joining the chorus for the restructuring since former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar made the call some few weeks ago. In recent weeks, we have had calls from across the political divides supporting Atiku's call including the old prophet of restructuring, Professor Ben Nwabueze. Restructuring has been an old destination that Nigeria has been wary of approaching. The music has been getting louder since the anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections won by Chief Moshood Abiola. That victory was later voided by the then military ruler, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Abiola died in 1998 while still being detained by the military.

There are many reasons why Atiku got our attention. Since 1999, he has been a constant presence in the power loop of Abuja and for eight years served as our country's Vice-President. In 1999, he was elected governor of Adamawa State but could not take up the job when he was tapped for the vice-presidency by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. A man who was perceived as a centralist in the past has now suddenly in 2016 seen the light. He has had a transformational encounter on the road to Damascus. This is something new and good. Said Atiku: "The rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, require a reset in our relationships as a united nation."

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