AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL NIGERIA’S 2019 PRESIDENTIAL/ SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE ASPIRANTS

A NIGERIA THAT WORKS: THE NIGERIA PROBLEM STATEMENT AND THE ONLY PEACEFUL SOLUTION


I write to bring to your attention the need and urgency to adopt a new instrument of governance for our country to create a Nigeria that works; A happier Nigeria.

As you may be aware that the system of governance we are currently practicing in reality is called the UNITARY SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. This model of governance has continually fuelled the disunity, disharmony, disparity, lopsidedness and instability we have around in this country.

Oftentimes, people have said bad leadership and corruption are the cause of the chaos in Nigeria but guess what, the duo are the effects and manifestation of the Nigeria Problem. Whilst attempting to state the cause of the Nigeria problem, I denounce any attempt to incite conflict amongst groups but it has been said that when people don’t know the cause of a problem; solutions often become an illusion.

The problem sprang from the FORCED MARRIAGE of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914 that resulted in NIGERIA. This marriage lacked mutual consent, unity, love, cohesion and most other good ingredients that would ensure a loving and peaceful marriage.

Even the country’s patriarch and founding leaders at that time attested to this fact.

(1) Lord Lugard: “The North and the South are like oil and water, they will never mix”

(2) Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa: “The Southern people who are swamping into this region daily in such large numbers are really intruders; we don’t want them and they are not welcome here in the North. Since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country. But the people are different in every way, including religion, custom, language and aspirations, we in the North take it that Nigeria unity is only a British intention for the country they created. IT IS NOT FOR US.”

(3) Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “Nigeria is only a geographical expression to which life was given by the diabolical amalgamation of 1914, that amalgamation will EVER remain the most painful injury a British Government inflicted on Southern Nigeria.”

(4) Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello: “The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate from our great grandfather, Othman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We must use the minorities in the North as willing tools, and the south as conquered territories and never allow them to have control of their future.”

(5) Rtd General Yakubu Gowon: “Suffice it to say that putting all considerations to the test, political, economic as well as social, the basis of unity is not there.”

(6) Dr Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe: “If this embryo republic of ours must disintegrate, then in the name of God, let the operation be a short and painless one.”

(7) Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “It is incontestable that British not only made Nigeria but also handed it to us whole on their surrender of power. But the Nigeria which they handed over to us had in it forces of its own disintegration. It is up to contemporary Nigeria leaders to neutralize these forces, preserve the Nigeria inheritance and make all our people free forward–looking and prosperous.

But painstakingly, these men were able to discover a workable solution to make the marriage and all parties live in peace and fulfillment of their aspirations, and the solution was to change from the unitary system of government handed over to them by the colonial masters to the FEDERAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT (FEDERALISM)

(1) Tafawa Balewa: I am pleased to see that we are now all agreed that the Federal system is under present conditions the only sure bans on which Nigeria will remain united. We must recognize our diversity and the peculiar conditions under which the different tribal communities live in this country.

(2) Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “If rapid political progress is to be made in Nigeria It is high time we were realistic in tackling its constitutional problems. Nigeria is not a nation; it is a mere geographical expression. There are no ‘Nigerians’ in the same sense as there are ‘English’ ‘Welsh’ or ‘French’. The word Nigeria is merely a distinctive appellation to distinguish those who live within the boundaries of Nigeria from those who do not.

(3) Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo: “I predict that every multi-lingual or multi-national country with a unitary constitution must either eventually have a Federal constitution based on the principles I have enunciated or disintegrate or be perennially afflicted with disharmony and instability.

This was the system they practiced until the military took over and the military instituted an unsuitable unitary system of government, which is what we are still using today.

Many researches and studies have shown that large countries of the world with diverse language, culture and religion like Nigeria thrive better under the Federal System of Government (Federalism).

Empirical studies have also shown that large countries of the World only with China’s exception practice Federalism. It was noted that about 28 countries of the world practice Federalism and 21 of these 28 countries were initially under the colonial era, hence such countries post-colonial era function better under Federalism. In fact, the research came to a conclusion that Federalism is almost an obligatory choice for countries in post-colonial era.

Federalism is a sophisticated method for bringing together the members of a diverse community. Federalism is a system that offers an unusual ability to deal with complex societies and internal diversity. A country can only enjoy dividends of democracy when it consolidates on the diversity of its population. Federalism brings unity in diversity.

Some benefits of Federalism amongst so many others include:

a. Separations of power and prevention of tyranny/Despotic tendencies i.e. ensures decentralization of power.

b. Autonomy of the state/regional/province in matters of security, economy, resource control, education, infrastructures, utilities etc.

c. Increases citizens’ participation as state/regional/province government can be more responsible to citizens’ needs

d. More efficient/leads to political stability

e. Governance become easier/conflict management

f. Respect for state/regional/province differences

g. Brings peace and combines the merit of unity with Diversity

h. It brings strength, progress and prosperity to the small state/minorities

i. Better for Large, diverse/ heterogeneous Nations

If we adopt the Federal System of government, all the agitations in the six (6) geopolitical regions of the country will be wiped out or at worst reduced to the barest minimum and regions/state will develop faster at its own pace.

Federalism can be a very useful solution to the issue of governing a large country like Nigeria. It is a way of meeting each state/region’s needs without those states/regions losing touch with the central government.

Leaders of a country are largely responsible for solving the country’s problems and we have observed that quite a handful of Leaders in the past and present government of Nigeria are aware of this required change.

They have consistently displayed the lack of WILL POWER to correct this anomaly and Nigeria has been moving around the circle all these years, hence, the problems in the country today.

It’s been over a hundred years since the 1914 marriage and the present state of Nigeria is not necessarily because of the past mistakes of the western colonialists but rather as a result of the unwillingness of the present day generation of Nigerian leaders to do the right thing and correct the mistakes of the past.

This inability to effect the necessary change has been the architect of their governance failure because no matter how good their intentions were/are, the present system of government and constitution has not empowered them to be successful leaders and it has always been a case of a fish struggling in water.

This is the basis of this Appeal to you today as individuals and people who will be custodians of power and will be in positions of authority to make this irrefutable change. Nigerians implore you to please in the name of God, leave partisan politics and embrace the patriotic and nation-building politics.

According to the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, three (3) factors combine to produce political stability in a country:

(a) The type of constitution of the country (largely derived from its form and system of government);

(b) The form and system of its Government; and

(c) The Caliber and Character of political leaders in and outside the government.

This required change to the Federal System of government is very possible and achievable if we have visionary leaders who are selfless and people-oriented leaders who have overgrown ethnic and religious bigotries and have conquered the syndrome of allegiance to primitive oligarchy and nepotism. Without a Federal system, this country will continue to wallow in the desert.

As you come into office, please bear in mind that the major task and hallmark of your success as Nigeria’s president/senator/house of rep. member/etc. is to give Nigerians the Federal System of Government (TOTAL FEDERALISM) as this is the only premise upon which you and your government will be empowered to deliver all your lofty campaign promises to the people of Nigeria.

Therefore, If Nigeria is to unite and if we want to get rid of agitations and instability, there is only one hope and that is FEDERALISM.

Our founding fathers did it and we can do it again.

I hope that this message will find a place in your heart and it will be carried as a burden that you cannot but deliver as you function in your respective leadership positions.

Who knows whether you have been placed on this side of town for such a time as this? Remember that posterity will never forget your efforts and labour of love towards your beloved country, Nigeria.

I will end this clarion call with the words of Martin Luther King Jnr. “Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society’s punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others.”

Thank you.

GOD BLESS YOU! GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!

Olayemi Olaniyi (Mrs) wrote from Lagos

Email: anigeriathatworks@gmail.com

www./ANigeriaThatWorks


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/06/a-nigeria-that-works-the-nigeria-problem-statement-and-the-only-peaceful-solution/


http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/an-open-letter-to-2019-aspirants/

Mr. Seun/Admins,

Please help move this to the front page. This is a front burner issue. Thank you.

I honestly don't see anything wrong with the current system of governance we are operating. My state legislator, councilor, local government chairman, federal legislators, governors all come out of my locality. The only person I don't know is the President

The problem is not the system of governance, its the people we are electing and we the voters. That's why we must all fight for the electoral system to work.

luvmijeje:
I honestly don't see anything wrong with the current system of governance we are operating. My state legislator, councilor, local government chairman, federal legislators, governors all come out of my locality. The only person I don't know is the President

The problem is not the system of governance, its the people we are electing and we the voters. That's why we must all fight for the electoral system to work.

While it is true that we have consistently elected bad leaders. It Would not be right to say we should continue with the unitary system of government. Research and empirical evidence all over the world have said that a multi cultural, multi religious, multi lingual country of which Nigeria is one is best governed under Federalism. A unitary system of government cannot support stability and growth in Nigeria. Check India, U.S, Canada, Ethopia etc. Entrenching true federalism is the way to go in Nigeria. God bless you.