True federalism, restructuring panacea to Nigeria’s woes
By Olusola Alatise
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Unless those who are agitating for the return of Nigeria to a parliamentary system of government incorporate true federalism and restructuring into it, their clamour would be an exercise in futility.
A professor of political science, Prof Akinsola Agagu declared this in an exclusive interview with The Hope in Akure.
Agagu posited that the success of Parliamentary system of government in the first Republic in Nigeria was made possible because of the practice of true federalism, adding that “it was not the parliamentary system that was the basis, it was true federalism”.
According to him, what all the ethnic nationalities and legislators should emphasise are true federalism and restructuring.
Just as parliamentary system of government is said not to be the best in itself but that solution to Nigeria is true federalism as it was in the first Republic.
He said the success of the parliamentary system of the first republic was because it was also built on credible leadership with patriotic zeal such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and not just in a vacuum.
“We need to understand that what makes government work is not its nomenclature. Parliamentary system is not a solution perse, parliamentary is not built in a vacuum.
Success recorded in the first Republic was as a result of true federalism practised then. Let there be restructuring so that Federal government don’t control all resources. Tax jurisdiction must change to be fair to all tiers of government.
“What is the origin of parliamentary system in Nigeria? It was because Britain that colonised Nigeria bequeathed it to us.
“However, people are clamouring for return to parliamentary system because of the success registered in the first republic, but it was not the parliamentary system that was the basis, it was true federalism.
“For instance, if the federal government does not own most of our resources, if Ondo State can develop at its own pace, people would not care so much about what happens at the centre.
“The revenue allocation formula, the means of allocating resources, all those things if they are settled, there would not be much problem.
“So the return to the parliamentary system may not be the issue, except along with that proposal, there is a big emphasis on restructuring and true federalism.
“Parliamentary system has its advantages, but it also has its own disadvantages. One advantage is that it may save funds, isn’t it? If ministers are chosen among the members of parliament, there is a tendency that it would reduce cost.
“But the doctrine of separation of powers meant well. If power is so fused, it can lead to autocracy. No matter the shortcomings of the national assembly today, you still find out that there are some positions it takes that helps the country.
“If the parliament and the executive are fused and once they take a position it becomes binding, it may not be in the best interest of the country. We may be saving money but the cost of autocracy, we may not be able to cost it.”
Agagu, who said the Nigerian state was created to be exploitative said fear of unknown is what is affecting those opposing restructuring, saying restructuring in good faith is better for Nigeria
He submitted that restructuring will give everybody a sense of belonging in the politics of Nigeria as well as building trust among the ethnic groups
“Restructuring gives you a sense of belonging to the polity, to the country and that is where the presidential system of government may be more appropriate than parliamentary.
On Nigeria’s myriad of problems, the don said Nigeria institutions including Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are defective and need to be refined to be devoid of any manipulation.
“The biggest problem we have in Nigeria is the problem of institutions; our institutions are not made to perform what they should do. There is so much manipulations, and that is why every leader should help to strengthen the institutions. If you allow institutions to work, it will reduce corruption, if institutions are not manipulated, if we use the same yard stick, if laws are enforced.”
He attributed the failure in the Nigerian system to the nationalists who alienated themselves from people as soon as they got power from the colonial masters.
“Let me go to the Nigerian state itself, which is true of many African states. The Nigerian state when it was created by the colonialists was made to exploit the people. And because of that, the leaders then had to have very strong security apparatus to tame the people.
The basic problem we have in Nigeria today is that we don’t trust the Nigerian state.”
The Professor of Political Science was of the submission that democracy will survive in Nigeria with the will of political elites having experienced military who came as saints, but ended being worst than civilians.