RESTRUCTURING AND GOOD GOVERNANCE; A PANACEA TO ETHNIC AGITATIONS IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

Abstract

There is an 'imminent security and war threat' to global stability, from one region to another. Nigeria, is
among the nations, and is currently being obsessed with the security threat emanating from the
agitations for restructuring and equitable distribution by some elements of secessionist struggles,
ethnic/tribalism, politicians and human right activists in the country. The study deals with crosspollination
of ideas for restructuring and good governance, and to end ethnic agitations in the southeast,
Nigeria. In recent time, the clamour for a restructuring of the polity has occupied the center stage of our
national political discourse. Good Governance on the other hand, is a 'suspension of disbelief', which
has kept the nation underdeveloped since independence. Against this backdrop, the study focuses on the
restructuring and good governance, as a panacea to the current agitations in the country. This study adopts the Structural Functionalist Theory as propounded by Emile Durkeim, Talcott Person and Robert
Merton as theoretical framework to analyze this ugly development of crisis in a political structural
system like Nigeria. Also, analytic research methodology was used. Data collected where chiefly
secondary sources. The research revealed that the concept of good governance will take care of current
agitations in the country, if practice, but its advocates have maintained the controversial label because
of our political undertones inherent in the nation since independence. It also asserted that nonequilibrium
in the political and social structures of Nigeria is responsible for the radical agitation for
equitable distribution control of national income. The study recommends the enthronement of a crosspollination
of dialogue ideas, patriotic, visionary and transformational leadership as a way of rendering
relevant views on the current incessant demand for a political restructuring and good governance, to end
the ethnic agitations in the country.