The Nigerian State – A house of cards

A house of cards is a complicated structure or organization with component parts delicately but precariously placed on each other that can easily fall apart. It is a metaphor that best describes Nigeria. If one card (in this case a state or region) leans too heavily on the other, the equilibrium is destroyed and the […]

A house of cards is a complicated structure or organization with component parts delicately but precariously placed on each other that can easily fall apart. It is a metaphor that best describes Nigeria. If one card (in this case a state or region) leans too heavily on the other, the equilibrium is destroyed and the whole pack comes crashing, destroying an otherwise beautiful and strong edifice. 

 Nigeria is very much like the human body that has been beautifully, painstakingly and miraculously put together by God. Every part is dependent on some other part to function and the whole is greater than the sum of its part. 

Whilst I believe in the right to self determination, after all we had Brexit and now Calexit which has always been muted but has gathered momentum since the emergence of Donald Trump as the President of the United States with Californians collecting signatures for a constitutional amendment and eventual referendum to exit the United States (noteworthy is the fact that California’s GDP is equal to or higher than that of many developed countries). Even the annulment of a marriage by a court of law is based on a standard of “irretrievable breakdown” or “irreconcilable differences.”. I believe He does not make mistakes and what He has put together no man should put asunder.

It is from this philosophical and almost spiritual premise that I believe as Nigerians we must approach the present agitations bedeviling our country and threatening to tear it apart.  The marriages that survive are those with couples that understand the importance of dialogue and communication. Communication of real truth. If we can agree on some truths, we are well on our way to building a modern day Nigeria. Let’s address the real issues and not skirt them as we look for practical solutions to what has become an existential threat. 

So if truth be told, there is an imbalance in the way the cards in this House of cards are stacked.  If truth be told the states are too weak and the Federal Government too strong. If truth be told power needs to devolve to the states as the states are no longer able to pay salaries or sustain themselves because the capacity to generate much needed revenue has been taken away from them by the constitution. If truth be told there is a lack of equity in the control of resources and distribution of wealth. How does one explain a situation where revenue collected from stamp duty transactions that originate and terminate in a state is collected by the Federal Government? How does one explain where for instance prisons are built only by the Federal Government and inmates convicted of state offences are locked up in Federal prisons. The absurdity is even more apparent when one considers Lagos with a population of over 20 million and five prisons and Adamawa with a population of less than five million has 17.  Or how do you justify the Federal Government controlling inland waterways of a state and the commercial activities thereon? 

Restructuring, reengineering or whatever fancy name we give it is what Nigeria needs and such must be on the basis of equity and fairness. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Let’s keep it simple. A comprehensive amendment to the constitution with the transfer of Federal powers to the states is what is needed. It is not rocket science. A Federal Government does not need the burdensome 54 items presently exclusive to it in our constitution. It reads like a laundry list.

We must circle the wagons and protect our union. In striving for a more perfect union, the National Assembly must pick up the IPOB gauntlet and face the challenge of our time. The responsibility falls squarely on us and we are faced with the fierce urgency of now. It is said that the hottest part of hell is reserved for those who in the face of evil do or say nothing.

Let me give one consequence of devolution of powers as an example. Devolution of powers will automatically transfer a lot of government parastatals and agencies to the states with the Governors appointing indigenes of their state to head or fill the top cadre of the agencies.  This scenario reduces the cry of marginalization from states or regions and also reduces unemployment in the states. 

We must not allow those whose agenda or motive remain unclear to divide us or dash our hopes and aspirations as a nation. We must seize this moment and fight for our co-dependence. 

We must remember that for over 10 years, ethnic tension brewed in the six republics that made up Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovania, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro and Slovenia. Eventually there was a separatist uprising similar to what is going on here and four of the Republics broke from the union. The pains and pangs of the war linger in that region till today.  Syria, Libya, Yemen and Ukraine are theaters of conflicts known to us all. We must not put our country through this. 

As a legislator I have been blessed and privileged to have worked alongside the finest men and women from the East, the West the North and the South who mean well for this country irrespective of the opinion of many out there and I must commend the National Assembly South East caucus for their recent patriotic communiqué which was laced with a dose of nationalistic fervor. It was leadership 101. The Senate President and the Deputy Senate President have also weighed in on this and I am in agreement with them that the National Assembly needs to be proactive in this matter. 

Our country has many problems with lots of moving parts but we only need to work together so we can put this behind us once and for all.  In times of crisis, great countries drop their differences, come together and speak with one voice for good of country. 

Like the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, maybe we should rename our country the United States of Nigeria. There just may be something there. 

May the labours of our heroes past never be in vain. My two cents.

Femi Gbajabiamila is the Leader of Nigeria’s House of Representatives.