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FEDERALISM AND THE NIGERIA OF OUR DREAMS (Episode 6)

 

"You Will Hear From Me Again" Alaafin Oba Adeyemi III 







(Concluding part of the last national assignment undertaken by the Alaafin Oba Adeyemi III for Nigeria)

21. Another study on the electoral process and democratic consolidation in Nigeria found that defective electoral process have resulted in the impositions of corrupt and illegitimate leaders who have no regard for the principles of democracy, good governance, rule of law, constitutionalism and fundamental human rights. It is however painful that in spite of the promise contained in the recommendations of the Uwais Panel on Electoral Reform, the 2010 Electoral Act with it's amendments fell short of reasonable expectations. The gross inability of the Act to redress the imperfections and inadequacies of earlier electoral laws would confirm it's uselessness as a tool for the transformation of Nigeria. Arguably, the average Nigeria is not only smart, but enterprising, making it possible for him to justify self-help and impunity. The electoral process must therefore be designed to produce leaders who will beat couple of times smarter than the average Nigerian. A more secure future lies in an electoral system that could ensure the emergence of leaders who possess requisite intellectual and democratic credentials to rule. Products of this process must be allowed to accede to power irrespective of social, religious, ethnic or gender background.

22. Leadership should not be determined on the basis of zoning, quota system or federal character, formulae that have all outlived their usefulness as power sharing paradigms. Such dubious affirmative actions have had the underserved consequences of frustrating prospective and potential state a d nation builders; making it totally impossible for persons of character and virtue to aspire to political offices. The obnoxious zoning formula smacks of unfairness in it's application and would forever perpetuate unequal of differing access to power within the context of politics in Nigeria.

23. What is obvious and cannot be denied is the fact of mass frustration, if not despondency, at the nature, character and direction of the terms and conditions of Nigeria's federalism can no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet as there are strong indications of general restiveness of the constituent units of the federal system. It is equally true that given the state of leadership and it's helplessness in the face of threats to the corporate existence of the country, the times are not auspicious for the convocation of a sovereign national conference with wide powers to re+position the country for development and progress.

24. It would however seem that the proponents of a sovereign national conference might have lost sight of the calculations and interests of international capitalism. With a history of one whole century of being together as a country, the average Nigerians have established their penetrating social, cultural, religious and economic relations that the balkanization of the country would be as unprogressive as unrealistic. Nigeria's high selling point or bargaining strength at the international level is it's enormous human a d material resources which are globally recognized.

25. What is needed is a leadership that will maximize these potentials and add value for the transformation of the country. It may not be too far fetched to suggests an international gang up against Nigeria in all previous efforts at producing a leader with national clout and impeccable credentials for leadership. We have alluded to one such instance above on the authority of Harold Smith who was a key actor in the unfortunate scheme. In 1975, international capitalism conspired to rob Nigeria of pragmatic leadership of General Muritala Mohammed and in 1998 Chief MKO Abiola the winner of the freest election in Nigeria was served tea and died at the hour of victory in the cold hands of agents of international conspiracy against the unity and progress of Nigeria.

26. The Nigerian emancipation project that will deliver a more secure future should be anchored on a sovereign national conference that will have just one agenda; the formulation of a transformative electoral process. If elected or nominated representatives of all the ethnic nations in Nigeria will converge at a conference at which a new electoral process will be developed and a referendum is carried out for it's adoption as the basis for all elections,the contentious issue of how leaders emerge would have been addressed. In recapturing Archimedes' 'give me a place to stand and I will move the whole earth', Robert. F. Kennedy said:

       A young monk began the Protestant Reformation, a young general extended an empire from Macedonia to the borders of the earth, and a young woman reclaimed the territory of France. It was a young Italian explorer who discovered the new World, and the thirty-two-year-old Thomas Jefferson who proclaimed that all men are created equal."

Kennedy then stated;

These (persons) moved the world, and so can we all.

Today and louder than Endsars, young Nigerians should cry out; 'give us' a credible and transparent electoral reform produced by a sovereign national conference and we will have the Nigeria of our dreams'. Herein is our collective destiny, where we our collective aspirations could be safely delivered and when we can begin to aspire to global reckoning.

Considering the nature, character and historical trajectory of the Nigerian State and Inter-Ethnic relationships, federalism remains the most viable model for the emancipation and rapid transformation of Nigeria from a mere agglomeration of states to a prosperous peaceful and united nation state.

You would hear from me again 


Iku Baba Yeye

OBA (DR.) LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III, JP, CFR, LL.D, SAP,D.LLITS,DPA, 

The Alaafin of Oyo and Permanent Chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs,

Chancellor University of Maiduguri, Borno State

Chancellor Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State

Pro-Chancellor Keisie International University of South Korea, Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone.









Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 21, 2022 at 10:00 AM

    Well packaged historical history of Aladdin of Oyo well done.....

    ReplyDelete

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