Calls for return to regionalism, an unnecessary distraction

Of recent, calls for a restructuring of the country to return to the regional structure as was the case during the First Republic have been gaining traction in the public space. These calls have become prevalent noticeably among political circles and the intelligentsia. To this end, there have been seminars, workshops and other interactions held […]

Of recent, calls for a restructuring of the country to return to the regional structure as was the case during the First Republic have been gaining traction in the public space. These calls have become prevalent noticeably among political circles and the intelligentsia.

To this end, there have been seminars, workshops and other interactions held around the country, ending with resolutions and communiqués, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to set the machinery in motion towards actualising the demand.

Indeed, not to be outdone, the National Assembly also held a conclave recently in Kano where various members extensively deliberated on the issue.

Admittedly, as a relatively young country, Nigeria is facing challenges relating to national development goals. Indeed, the search for answers to the country’s myriad of challenges has been ongoing since gaining independence in 1960. This has taken both positive and negative turns along the line, and has served to open up yet more avenues for robust engagements on what has come to be called the ‘National Question’.

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While the majority of Nigerians are in agreement that the country faces some existential challenges that require a restructuring of the polity to address these issues, there is, however, a wide divergence on how this can be approached and what the outcomes should be.

Due to the complex nature of the country in terms of ethnic composition, political persuasions, faith and religious beliefs, and historical experiences, Nigeria indeed had been a laboratory of political experimentation through successive constitutional arrangements from the earliest times of colonial rule to date.

Along the line, it has become a tradition that as soon as one constitutional arrangement was concluded, it quickly raises issues that generate calls for another constitutional restructuring.

One noticeable recurring issue that runs through the calls over the years has been the desire by the political elite to place personal and group interests over national interests, which should not be the case. Over time, too, it had become noticeable that some often press for the convocation of such constitutional conferences for the pecuniary perks the occasion offers them as appointed representatives.

Thus, over the years, the country had expended billions in organising such jamborees instigated by the political elite which invariably come to nought, resulting in a painful waste of opportunities for necessary national rebirth.

Since the coming of the current civilian democratic dispensation, beginning with the President Olusegun Obasanjo  administration, both the Executive  and National Assembly had organised constitutional conclaves to ostensibly discuss what constitutes the “National Question”.

But coming thus far, Nigerians do not have the stomach for such jamborees, which they rightly see as needless distraction. Most Nigerians view a return to the regional structure of the past, which brought so much dysfunction and unhealthy competition among the regions, as needless. That structure birthed unresolvable crises that led to the unfortunate and tragic civil war, which scars we still bear today in our polity.

Those calling for a return to that structure have not provided cogent reasons to convince most citizens that our political elite will not return the country to the ugly happenings that occurred in those years of yore. Indeed, the trend we see of political activists engaging in what borders on treasonable activities in pursuit of their quest for regionalism and even secession from the country is alarming.

We call on such activists to order, and urge those behind their activities to rein them in before they plunge the country into avoidable crises on account of their activities.

We believe Nigerians stand to benefit more if the political elite devote more efforts to finding solutions to the current economic hardships that citizens are facing. Nigerians grappling with hunger, unemployment, insecurity and general high cost of living want immediate and enduring answers to these low-hanging existential issues that mean more to them.

Under the present circumstances, we believe that the calls for regionalism are a distant, unrealistic pie-in-the-sky demands fraught with uncertainties and quite honestly, an unnecessary distraction to the issues at hand.

Besides, we hold it strong that the major issues facing Nigeria are not its dismemberment but uniting to face the myriad of problems facing us.

We would be better off if only we could use our diversity to explore our strengths and marshal them for the good of our country.

It is also clear that those countries that parted ways are still struggling with issues of development.

In a recent interview with the Daily Trust, General Yakubu Gowon, who was the Head of State during the civil war that would have ended what is called Nigeria, was emphatic on the indivisibility of the country.

Gowon, who turns 90, when asked of his take about secession or strong regions in the country said, “I created 12 states to make sure that no place is too big or too strong to threaten the unity of the country.

“Lagos State was made up of Lagos Central, Epe, Ikeja and Badagry; that was for the old colony of Lagos to become a state of its own.

“That was probably one of the reasons that after the civil war, the security situation made us to think of establishing a new capital in Abuja so that at least the federal government and a state would not stay in one place,” he said.

We align with statesman in maintaining a strong federal government, as well as strong states that would grow in their own paces.

The magic wand to good governance lies in the leadership. We believe that our constitution has given ample powers to our leaders at the national and sub-national levels to deliver. What is needed now is a change of mindset.