Redesigning the entire structure of the country in a way that makes the units truly responsible for their destiny is the only sustainable way to go in a system like ours. This must happen; it’s only a question of how much longer we can afford to bury our heads in the sand and suffer the ugly consequences. Nigeria is really a collection of ethnic groups and nations with their distinct cultures and traditions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Redesigning the entire structure of the country in a way that makes the units truly responsible for their destiny is the only sustainable way to go in a system like ours. This must happen; it’s only a question of how much longer we can afford to bury our heads in the sand and suffer the ugly consequences. Nigeria is really a collection of ethnic groups and nations with their distinct cultures and traditions. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Our different ethnic groups with their distinct cultures can contribute something unique to the national table. In the United States of America, the Jewish Americans have helped establish that country as a global financial powerhouse; the African Americans have helped make their country the entertainment capital of the world. The Irish American, Italian American, Chinese Americans have all contributed their unique capabilities in establishing the greatness of the United States. The US immigration policy has promoted the diversity that helps the country attract some of the world’s most talented people. There’s indeed strength in diversity.
With over 250 tribes and ethnic groups, we are blessed to have a country like ours. But harnessing the strength in our diversity, like building a healthy marriage, requires wisdom and a willingness to make compromises.
Some have talked about what they describe as the “Nigerian can-do spirit.”
Former President Rawlings of Ghana, during a televised interview, wished that his countrymen were more like the tough and audacious Nigerians, who are not easily intimidated. It’s also been said that Nigerians are some of the most innovative and determined entrepreneurs on the continent, maybe even on the planet. It is not surprising then that the world’s richest Blackman is Nigerian. We can do much more with the right structure.
Nigeria has almost all it takes to be a great power. Unfortunately, this will only remain a dream because the current structure of the country guarantees that the nature of the battle to control the centre will encourage corruption, inefficiency and disunity. There would always be that struggle to control the centre – even a weakened centre, but a true federal structure will ensure that the units still maintain the freedom to determine their own destiny. The key task of unit leaders should be to work hard to establish an environment that ensures maximum opportunities for individuals and efficient use of other resources within it, thereby generating wealth and prosperity.
A structure that compels a unit to keep going back to the centre – especially an incompetent centre – for decisions concerning local events should be discouraged. For instance, a governor is said to be the Chief Security Officer of his state, yet control of the coercive apparatus lies elsewhere. It’s easy to see that the priorities of the centre would prevail in matters of security in any state. The drama at Anambra state under Gov. Chris Ngige is an example.
Allowing units to determine their destinies would help the country by providing several approaches to tackling challenges. Other units with similar challenges and circumstances can adopt proven solutions and not have to reinvent the wheel. This advantage is lost in the one-cap-fits-all approach of the highly centralized systems. The creativity unleashed by healthy competition among units can only lead to a more prosperous and engaged country.
This restructuring of Nigeria would best be brought about by a major review of the constitution. The many challenges facing this country and growing number of voices calling for a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) today is ample evidence that this matter has to be addressed, sooner rather than later. The SNC is seen by many as the last real hope for preserving the unity of the country and an opportunity to rebuild decades-old structural defects that have hindered real progress towards a sustainable union.
This administration’s efforts at amending the constitution have proved unacceptable to the people, for good reasons too. Our National Assembly, comprising of some of the world’s highest paid legislators, have lost legitimacy in the eyes of the people. They have become unfit for these important tasks of holistic review of the constitution, hence the call for a people’s constitution. The parliamentary institution of Nigeria itself requires some review and it would be working against human nature to expect these members to come up with proposals that cubs their powers and excesses. Cosmetic amendments will not go the distance.
Some, expectedly, are afraid of a SNC whose outcome can be very unpredictable. What if it reopens old wounds and leads to breakup of the country? Would balancing old imbalances not itself create new imbalances? Even if the country survives a breakup, do we have the maturity to handle the fallout? When should the constitution become effective?
Many questions regarding the nature of such a conference do not have easy or clear answers: how should it be convened? When should it be convened? How should the members be (s)elected? How many should they be? Who would superintend or supervise (the military and colonial masters have done this before now) it? Would there be no-go areas? How should gridlocks be handled? Would the deliberations be held under closed-door?
There’s also the issue of mutual distrust between the South and North. Many people in the South wonder why the North seems to oppose proposals and policies that aim to promote unity and development. Whether it’s privatization of public enterprises, recapitalization of the banks, State Police Force proposal, true fiscal federation, etc, the North somehow feels threatened and seeks to throw a spanner in the works.
The North on their part is ever suspicious of the motives behind these “developmental” policies and proposals. They also tend to frown at what is perceived as the domineering and aggressive business and professional tendencies of the South. The liberal social practices of the South have remained unwelcome in the North.
How much a Constituent Assembly achieves within our context depends to a large extent on how the questions above are answered. I shall make my suggestions about them in a subsequent piece. Concerning the mutual distrust between the South and North; some of these sentiments, while true, are mostly exaggerated and can be wisely resolved.
What’s important now is that we are in the same leaky boat and must come together to keep it afloat as we build a more stable and functional one. Failure to do so will have dire consequences – for all.
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Victor Ade
[email protected]
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