Nigeria’s sovereignty and its discontents
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It appears the only people who do not understand the import of the debate on the future of Nigeria are those cocooned in the seat of power. For, wherever two or more are gathered over Nigeria’s politics and governance, there is either a direct discussion on the expediency of restructuring of the failing federation or the failure of governance strategy.
This indifference of the ruling elite to the urgency of making Nigeria a truly functional federation is a disgrace to them. And it is not surprising that such elite imperviousness to reason and lessons of history has compelled Nobel laureate and literary giant, Professor Wole Soyinka, to lend his voice to the calls for a critical look at the state of the union and to put a lie to the typical response from those in office and power that ‘Nigeria’s unity or sovereignty is not negotiable.’ This constant refrain is not only simplistic, it is outright dishonest.
Nigerian leaders at all levels should understand that this is a democracy and when they shut their ears to the people’s yearnings, they board the vehicle to failure.
Soyinka has aptly reiterated this newspaper’s firmly-held age-long position that “the sovereignty of the nation is negotiable” and a decentralisation of the nation would ensure healthy rivalry among the component units.
Nigeria, certainly, cannot make progress with the current centralised arrangement which encourages indolence on the part of some while they feed fat on the sweat and resources of others.
This is an arrangement that must be dismantled and replaced with one that bears the finest attributes of a true federation.
A centralised revenue aggregation and then allocation formula, whereby the centre collects all resources only to turn around and dole out some to the federating states every month will continue to make the constituent states beggarly, un-resourceful and unviable. The centralised police system has failed the nation as the police force in its current state cannot deal with the nation’s internal security challenges. So, the issue of state police in a federation is an idea that can no longer be wished away! There are clear examples in federations such as the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia and even the United Kingdom (UK) where a decentralised police system is the norm. In the UK, for instance, there are 43 police forces, apart from other supporting forces in different localities. The New York City (not New York State) Police is one of the most operationally efficient police in the world. In Nigeria’s First Republic, when the regions were autonomous before the military destroyed federalism, state police was part of the success of that era.
It is unfortunate that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been ambivalent about the structure of Nigeria and what to do to make the country function properly. On one hand, he said restructuring was not more expedient than diversification (of the economy) and in another, he reportedly supported the idea of state police in the context of massive insecurity challenges in the country. There is no middle ground. Nigeria is either a federation or not. And given its diversities, the only way to development is for such a country to adopt federalism in which the individuality of its component nations is acknowledged and a strong unity is built out of the diverse interests.
There is one thing Nigeria’s leaders should note: nation-building is not a project for the faint-hearted. Which is why all elders and statesmen in the country should raise their voices, like Soyinka has done, in educating those who pretend or actually do not understand history that sovereignty is better negotiated peacefully than forcibly taken or foisted. Within one generation, the Soviet Empire collapsed like a pack of cards into not-so-remarkable entities. Yugoslavia disintegrated into a collection of warring states and municipalities. Germany was once forcibly divided but eventually evolved into one country from two.
Eritrea came out of Ethiopia even as Menelik II had sold Djibouti to the French almost 116 years ago to fund the modernisation of Addis Ababa. Sudan was forced to let Southern Sudan go after years of war as a result of centralised injustice and further splitting is possible given the current agitation in the same South Sudan. What of the United Kingdom? That once great power may soon be reduced to only England as Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are reconsidering their membership of the United Kingdom, following the just concluded Brexit vote. India, the world’s largest democracy, evolved from one territory to three countries (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh) within just a quarter of a century. So, the opposition to negotiating Nigeria’s sovereignty or restructuring it into a functional federal state is unfounded, ignorant and unpatriotic.
What Nigeria needs today are leaders with open mind who would not see those calling for restructuring of the federation as rebels out to break up the country. Indeed, proponents of authentic federalism should be seen as patriots who want a solid foundation for a united and prosperous Nigeria whose re-construction is yet to begin.
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24 Comments
I wonder where in the world has rivalry been healthy among supposed family members. Sovereignty certainly will be difficult in an atmosphere of rivalry. Nigeria as at today is not a union, but an amalgamation, and Nigerians are not a people. The amalgamation of 1914 is responsible for the rivalry. What Nigerians, and Nigeria, need is collaboration, not rivalry. This is only possible when the amalgamation is either annulled or adopted by Nigerians. A sovereign national conference of the ethnic nations is what is required to either adopt or annul the amalgamation. The ethnic nations that don’t want to be part of Nigeria should be free to start their own country. In every symbiotic relationship the option of divorce/parting ways is always on the table. But the reverse is the case for a parasitic relationship which always ends in the death of host and parasite. On a serious note, who is afraid of Nigeria breaking up? What will Nigeria or any Nigerian lose if Nigeria breaks up? Nationhood is about collaboration. Rivalry among, supposed, family members is proof of mistrust. Mistrust breeds corruption, impunity, federal character, hatred, arson, terrorism, militancy, ineptitude, incompetence etc. Friendship and marriage are never by force nor a must, so also is Nigeria not a must nor by force. The option of breaking up Nigeria must always be on the table, as in a symbiotic relationship if Nigeria must develop and progress. Or end in death as in a parasitic relationship.
Articulate ! Thank you !
Rivalry in the context of the editorial does not imply infighting or hatred. It means competition to outperform the other in resource generation. Infact in advance capitalist democracy laws are made to encourage competition among constituent entities especially businesses. Basil Ogbanufe got it wrong. Disintegrating Nigeria is not an option at all. Let states develop in line with their areas of competence and support the centre with a small part of their earnings. We must allow states to grow at their own pace.
Excuse me sir , why don’t you simply say “True fiscal Federalism” instead of running round it with words.
I will qoute from the Editorial above “There is no middle ground. Nigeria is either a federation or not. And given its diversities, the only way to development is for such a country to adopt federalism in which the individuality of its component nations is acknowledged and a strong unity is built out of the diverse interests”
Is there anything called true federalism? That implies there is fake federalism. I agree with you that we needto practice federalism in all ramification though and I guess that is what you refer to as true federalism
Thank you once again Sir ! Progress ! we are almost in principle saying the same thing…. That is dialogue . And that is exactly what Nigeria needs now .
Thanks bros. Incidentally the topic of discussion today on my live radio program that I anchor every Thursday on DBS Asaba was Restructuring Nigeria NOW. And we commenced an opinion poll onwhether Nigeria should be restructured or not. Participants are encouraged to vote yes or no to the question by texting to our dedicated line 0816 658 0019. The vote is open till Thursday 4th July 2016. You are invited to vote.
I appreciate and accept to be part of the event by texting in my opinion , though not in the country right now , I will be texting in from France . +33 (0) 695 744 581 . Thanks once again . I encourage all of you that are doing the best for our country. God Bless.
That is the spirit my broda. It is ‘Eshobe’ thing and every push no matter how small moves the truck forwardand the Nigerian ship is a behemoth we need all of us to push it.
My dear brother, it’s only a car, or a truck that has refused to start thank you push so it can start, that is for the engine to start working. As par ship, I am not aware of any being pushed. However, whenever a car needs pushing to start it means, it’s due for service maintenance, overhaul or replacement. Fifty-six years after independence and one hundred and two years after amalgamation Nigeria does not need service maintenance or an overhaul but total replacement. It is time the breaking up of Nigeria is discussed. Nigeria as at today is a visionless country.
My dear brother I have not seen where rivalry has been healthy among family members. Family members don’t need rivalry but collaboration. Rivalry is for strangers. If Nigerians are strangers then rivalry is in order, meaning we are deceiving ourselves talking of being a nation and a people. My dear brother I have not seen where friendship or marriage was by force or a must except it is kidnap. However, in every friendship and marriage the option of divorce/parting-ways is always on the table. This is the case with every symbiotic relationship. The EU is heading towards being a political entity and as developed as it is it has the option of divorce/parting-ways on the table for its members. A symbiotic relationship. The UK has the option of divorce/parting-ways on the table for its members, that is why Scotland and Northern Ireland are talking seriously of leaving the union. A symbiotic relationship. The USA has the option of divorce/parting-ways on the table for its members. A symbiotic relationship. It’s only a parasitic relationship that does not have the option of divorce/parting-ways on the table, and its eventual result is death of host and parasite. My dear brother, on a very serious note, what will Nigeria lose if it breaks up? What will you lose if Nigeria breaks up? Please, why should any one be afraid of Nigeria breaking up? Even among children of same parents (same father and mother) the option of divorce/parting-ways is on the table for them. Abraham, our father of faith, parted ways ways with Lot, his nephew. Certainly, the option of divorce/parting-ways being on the table, all the time, is vital and key for the peace, development and progress of any symbiotic relationship. As at today Nigeria is still an amalgamation not a union. Let us talk of annulling this amalgamation. Let us talk of breaking up Nigeria.
If you say my Broda that we must all go our different ways, to what level do we divorce? Is it into tribalenclaves, local govt or states? How many of the states are compatible internally or viable? How many states can fund their security needs or foreign affairs. I think there are areas we need to pool resources to achieve functionality and these areas we contract to a federal government. Others are handled at the federating unit levels. Thanks
Sir you give the impression that we never existed before the amalgamation of 1914. We exited and thrived prosperously before the colonialists sowed mistrust among us with the amalgamation. Breaking up means going to the arrangement before the amalgamation of 1914. The Yorubas know their territory before the amalgamation so do other ethnic nations. Nigeria today is having very serious financial and economic crisis because of the false political arrangement which serves the colonialists and their agents. The breaking up of Nigeria is in our collective and individual best interest.
noted
It’s unfortunate the Guardian has also joined the bandwagon of Restructuring in its nebulous etymology.
Again like the decibel agitating the stratosphere this editorial like professor Wole Soyinka’s prognostications did not offer any disambiguation of the concept nor does it show how to go about it’s execution without another protracted civil war.
Any tinkering on national structure at a time when the world is being rattled by hate and all the vestiges of malapropism portends dare consequences.
Professor Osinbajo’s contribution remains incontrovertible in the absence of a broader narrative on restructuring.
For instance assuming there is a reversion of revenue allocation ratio in favour of state governments,is it not going to make Nigeria more impoverished and the governors much more impudent and reckless with funds.
If diversification is not possible with the present structure somebody should tell me how restructuring would ensure diversification or help the economy.
Are you saying the governors cannot think because the federal government gets the lion share of the national revenue and the reversion would magically make the same governors Albert Einstein of their arid states?.when has inability to get more from a federation become a disability to generating resources through creative ideas?
I think there is a collective chasing of shadows in this restructuring.Let’s face facts before the separatists hijack the disconnecting chasms.
My dear brother why should Nigeria breaking up lead to “another protracted civil war”? What will you lose if Nigeria breaks up? Why should any one be afraid of Nigeria breaking up? If the UK can consider breaking up, why not Nigeria? Remember, Nigeria is still an amalgamation.
It becomes laughable when we compare our democracy with UK and directly apply concomitant trajectory.
UK is done with her infrastructure,education is impeccable,security is top notch,par capita income unparalleled,citizenship highly detribalized.
UK can even break into local government units and still succeed but take my word,this restructuring will emasculate Nigeria and the proponents would be the first to relocate their families.
My dear brother you give the impression that what the UK has achieved in terms of development is rocket science. No it is not. Whatever the UK has achieved developmentally Nigeria can do far better. Take my word for it. The only problem Nigeria has is mistrust and nothing is being done about building trust. Therefore the option of divorce becomes the best way forward. Before the amalgamation of 1914 we did exist as neighbours. We traded and cooperated in different ways. But the amalgamation sowed the mistrust amongst us which the colonialists and their agents are reaping from. My dear brother do not fear the break up of Nigeria is in our collective and individual best interest. However, you can list your fears and together we will address them.
The Nigerian Government has always been insincere and economical with the right course of action towards unifying the polity. Or aren’t they all aware that no forced union has been recorded sustainable? The north are the problem; the centralisation and with the concomittant corruption, nepotism and the like have often favoured that part of the country and any reason why they won’t let go? I’m laughing my friends and foes!
Adiele Thompson T.
Accountant.
Thank you Guardian Editorial Board.
Continue to speak truths to power.
For all proponents of True Fiscal Federal system, our time has come. You can only stop it temporaly. It will surely happen. That’s the only way to build a Nigeria we will all love and cherish.
Biafra freedom and restoration of Biafra republic
This is an honourable position to take. It is also a measure that can never again be wished away!
By the time oil is discovered in the Tchad basin, the nation will be restructured. When that happens, oil may not be needed in most advanced countries as other means of generating energy would have been perfected
The very ones who are afraid of renegotiating our dysfunctional federation are the very ones who benefit from the current structure. They are the ‘monkey dey work, baboon dey chop’ class of indolent and lazy elite. A nation that cannot supply electricity to her citizens with hundreds of billions of dollars earned from oil, and after nearly 60 years of independence, has failed. The ones who are afraid of a restructured Nigeria are those who have the ‘born to rule mentality’ who believe that, without them, Nigeria will cease to exist.
We will review and take appropriate action.