#Features

Aftermath of presidential polls, road to true federalism

By Ayodele Fagbohun

|

On the “post mortem” analysis of the just concluded presidential election, it could be vividly seen even at a cursory look that ethno-religious cleavages played dominant role which if not promptly and constitutionally addressed now could be incendiary. It may  blow the nation into various disparate ethnic linguistic and religious fiefdoms; and knocks out the existence of Nigeria as a viable democracy.

It is constantly averred and submitted that  presidential election, all things  being equal is a serious,  earnest and burdensome  undertaking not to be taken at one’s leisure. The office of president must be  contested  on units,  competence, capability and experience to excel in the management of men  and materials.

Besides, the sheer territorial size of Nigeria necessitates the adoption of  true federal form of constitution,  hence the division of the vast country into states or regions, even if the inhabitants of Nigeria are  linguistically or ethnically homogeneous.

Nigeria should as a matter  of course be led by any Nigerian acceptable to all or to majority of the people of the country; and not to be  consigned on the lap of indolent and lazy religious bigot or which chauvinist in an obscure of corner of Nigeria.

For instance, during the last presidential elections, ethnicity and religion literally became a  deciding factor; not expertise on economy and ability  on intelligence gathering to tackle insecurity which is the dearth of non modern governance.

Was it not  astonishing that unknown  Labour Party (L) hurriedly organized by Peter Obi  of Igbo extraction raised some dust in a blitz and swang a surprise win right in the heartland of the ruling All Progressives’ Congress (APC) dominated core Yoruba land.

Aside from the vile propaganda of Mr. Peter Obi which had negative and harmful effects on ethnic  conscious. Igbo youth in Lagos in collusion with the gullible preponderant youths of Yoruba extraction having an axe  to grind with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his unchallenged leadership profile since his governorship  career  in 2007.

Related News  Towards peaceful parties' primaries

Some Yorubas have no qualm of conscience in conducting violence, mayhem and arson on their kith and kin at the slightest provocation, without even finding to know what is amiss, let alone conducting research into  any vexatious issue at stake.

They more often than not join multitude to do evil. There is need more than hitherto, to  infuse solidarity  into the disjointed, tribes that comprise Yoruba ethnic group in a bid to  protect our sovereignty from being encroached or trampled upon by common intruders.

The unshaken and implicit loyalty  which Igbos alongside their brothers and sisters in Yoruba, to secure narrow victory for LP in Lagos state did not arise from any ideological standpoint or faith. Rather from linguistic affinity ethnic and Christian self assertion and  vitriolic bitterness brazen  hostility  avuncular  animosity and envy. This is very dangerous and ominous sign that negates true federalism.

Nigeria must thrive and flourish under true practice and principle of federalism. That is to say, the division of the country into states along ethnic lines will enable each linguistic group not only to develop its own peculiar culture and institutions but to move forward at its own pace without let or hindrance.

Only a unitary constitution with only one central government will promote frustration to the more pushful or more  dynamic ethnic group.

How on earth would Labour Party (LP) having no structure of responsible and accountable government could now be boastful of winning Lagos? This is mere mid-night summer dream.

This is sheer anarchy that will not stand the text of time in a true federal setup of government.

Peter Obi and his infantile LP should race  home quickly to the South East and put  his house in order before attempting to venture into national politics across other  parts of the country; to prove his mettle for charity begins from home.

Obafemi Awolowo, in his Autobiography Awo he did say: Nigeria should have as many provinces  , zones, regions or states as there were linguistic or  ethnic groups in the country and that each region should have a legislature and government of  its  own.

Related News  Aiyedatiwa Group commends Interior Minister on party cohesion

“There would be  a central or federal parliament and government on which the various linguistic groups in the country would be represented. Under these arrangements, each ethnic group could develop its own peculiar culture and institutions in accordance with the wishes; and inter-tribal  acrimony   and jockeying for leadership which are rearing their heads way cease.

“The Government of each linguistic group would be led by one of their members, and Nigeria would be led by any Nigerian acceptable to all or to majority of the peoples of the country” Awo asserted.

Nigeria is multi-lingual, religions and secular nation comprising over 250 ethnic groups which are independent and autonous before the conquest of  British colonial rule and the eventual proclaimation of British pax.

In the 1931 census, 10 main national groups were identified in Nigeria as follows (1) hausa (2) Igbo (3) Yoruba, (4) Fulani (5) Kanuri (6) Ibibio (7) Munshi or Tiv (8) Edo (9) Nupe (10) Ijaw. According to Nigeria handbook, 11th edition, ‘there are also a great number of  other small tribes too numerous to enumerate separately whose combined total population amounts to 4,683,044.

It is  remarkable to note that the nation and her  people have weathered every conceivable political storm  peaceably in spite  of the  huge diversities in culture,  to language, religion and the needless strains and pressure  inflicted on the  nation due to rank administrative ineptitude and naked  capacity of our  political office holders both in the civilian and military attire.

It is apposite in my conclusion to extensively quote  Chief Obafemi Awolowo having played a leading role in constitution-making in Nigeria since 1949.

The late sage had empirically demonstrated both in theory and practice that constitution-making is Applied Science. It follows therefore that  certain laws or principles must be observed  else the society or the country go into flames or come to grief and peril for the  wrong application of the constitution.

Related News  Contrary to X user claim, experts say okra can be harmful to male reproductive system

According  to  Chief Obafemi Awolowo  (1) if a country is  unilingual  and uni-national, the constitution must be unitary.(2) if a country is uni-lingual or bi-lingual or multi-lingual and also consists of communities which over  a period of  years, have developed divergent  nationalities, the constitution must be federal, and constituent states must be organized on the dual basis of language and nationality.

(3)  If a country is bilingual or multi-lingual, the constitution must  be organized on linguistic bases.

(4)  Any experiment with a unitary constitution in a bi-lingual,  multi-lingual or multi-national country must fail in the long run.

No wonder, the gargantuan and recurring abysmal failure of the  military rule and its concomitant  self serving civilian administrations  in Nigeria driving us from pillar to post; grope in the dark in elusive search for workable constitution over  the  years.

From the foregoing, the constituent states must  not only be organized along linguistics ethnic lines and  relatively geographically contiguous but autonous, and shall operate separate constitutions to  manage their own affairs independent of the federal constitution.

This was precisely what obtained when Nigeria was under the British tutelage which ushered in the first Republic politics. The three regional governments viz: Northern , Eastern and Western operated their won separate constitutions independent of the Federal government. The western Nigerian constitution empowered the premier, Chief  Obafemi Awolowo to appoint chief Gabriel Akindeko as Agent-General to United Nations UN, Food and  Agricultural Organization (FAO) office based in Accra, Ghana.

Following the  Pan Nigerian electoral mandate feely  and fervidly given to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of APC, the road to true federalism is assured to guarantee peace, orderly development, progress and unity of the country.

For the president-elect can  effectively through his rich antecedents and track records in both private and public service can be or tremendous influence  in mobilizing, uniting and  knitting together the various disparate ethnic and partisan people in the country for effective governance,

Share
Aftermath of presidential polls, road to true federalism

Digital Banking And Allied Matters

Aftermath of presidential polls, road to true federalism

Play game according to rules – IPAC

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *