A Political Discourse: Proposal for Reforms to Birth a Robust Nation.
Nigeria is a complex nation comprising a very diverse 250 ethnic groups with over 500 languages within a geographical boundary. This rich cultural diversity has been a blessing over the years while some may argue that it is also the cause of conflicts and clashes perhaps, akin to the disbandment of the ambitious people who sought to build the Tower of Babel in the Bible.
In the years leading up to and following the independence of the Nigerian polity, socio-political thinkers of the time were not afraid to perform political experiments with a view to producing a perfect union of peoples. There has thus been a Clifford Constitution (1922), Richards Constitution (1946), Macpherson Constitution (1951), Lyttleton Constitution (1954), an Independence Constitution in 1960, another Constitution when the nation turned a Republic in 1963, the post civil war 1979 Constitution, a transient 1993 Constitution and the extant 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The 1999 Constitution essentially creates a democratic republic of federating states with three tiers (local, state and federal) as well as three arms (executive, legislative and judicial) of government. In reality however, Nigeria's democracy can be likened to a big tree (federal) with branches sprouting out from it (states) having leaves attached thereto (local government). Such a political arrangement which concentrates power in the centre is naturally incapable of sustaining a culturally diverse union as Nigeria hence, increasing calls in recent times by extremists for secession or the moderates for restructuring.
To keep the Nigerian union, political restructuring may suffice as an interim solution. By restructuring, central power is devolved from the federal government to the states such that the latter is almost completely autonomous and would only be obligated to contribute to the federal government. This arrangement would mostly take care of the issue of diversity as it would minimise conflicts between indigenous tribes while encouraging a healthy competition between the states. In other words, it is akin to rivers (states) flowing into the ocean (federal government).
It is noteworthy that currently and for political convenience, Nigeria is divided into six (6) geopolitical zones comprising the 36 states and the FCT to wit: north-west, north-central, north-east, south-west, south-east and south-south. There is also another classification for the purpose of oil derivation called the Niger-Delta region consisting of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States. As previously stated, the goal of this classification is to give a little extra funds to the states possessing crude oil which remains the nation's primary revenue source.
Notwithstanding the foregoing constitutional and political considerations towards attaining a united polity, there continues to be friction amongst the different units leading to insinuations and in fact, unequivocal accusations of marginalisation, and rightly so (there are examples or instances to buttress the argument which do not fit into the overall objective of this write-up). Furthermore, though a constitutional creation, states appear to have surreptitiously made the local government tier subservient to the governors or otherwise, completely redundant!
It is therefore, in light of the foregoing as well as several other common considerations or factors that it is apposite to propose a constitutional amendment (or total review, if necessary) which would take into account Nigeria's unique diversity and harness same to build a stronger union.
PROPOSAL: With 36 states and the FCT (which would be autonomous units of the federation) as the lowest tier of democratic government, the nation should have five (5) regions as follows: south-south, south-west, south-east, middlebelt and north. In addition, there should be a federal government which would direct national and foreign policies for the country. Rather than the current bicameral legislature, the federal legislature under the new Nigeria would only have a House of Representatives populated by an equal number of members from the five regions – which would engender cooperation and unity of purpose between component parts for national interest and development. It is imperative to keep in mind that as autonomous entities, each state would have its three arms of government including a judicial appeals process. By so doing, few appeals with a constitutional bearing may lie to the regional appeals court and even fewer appeals may further lie to the Federal Supreme Court! NOTE that these cases are different from federal cases which would emanate from the Federal High Courts.
The advantages of the above experiment/theory ought to include but are not limited to:
1. There is greater balance of power amongst component entities;
2. There is a substantial reduction in governance costs at federal level while the states learn to live within their means;
3. The possibility of ethnic/tribal clashes is minimised at regional level;
4. The people are better able to hold elected officials accountable as they have full control of resources;
5. There would be healthy competition between states as well as regions.
It is hoped that these reforms (or such variants as may be necessary) will be sufficient to put Nigeria on the path of unity, peace, progress and development.
Follow the author, AA Ibironke, Esq. on Twitter @SirMcAwesome247
