It's no news that Nigeria is an armorphous of different ethnic nationalities lump together in one country. Yet we could be one if we agreed to recognize this and 'arrange' own political system to accommodate our diversity.
Unfortunately we are trying to copy America which is completely different from Nigeria in composition viz:
1. Indigenous americans are the red Indians who are in the minority now and like other identifiable ethnic minorities do not concentrate in a particular geographical location unlike in Nigeria where Yorubas, Ibos, Ijaws, Hausas and other ethnic groups have identifiable geographical areas.
2. USA was formed by each states joining the federation at different times while Nigerian ethnic nationalities were 'forcefully/ deceptively' merged together by slave traders called colonial masters.
3. Most 'indegenous' Americans are whites from Europe who 'ran' to that geographical areas as a result of a common problem- religious persecution unlike Nigeria, the common issue that brought the ethnic nationalities together is the convenience of administration by the colonial masters.

UK which is 4 countries within a country is one country that shared similar armorphosity with Nigeria. We have England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each with own languages. Each of them have some powers to govern themselves and even compete in international sporting events like olympic, football as individual counrties.

Therefore copying the USA Federalism cannot be suitable or bring peace to Nigeria.
If we do not want to split into pieces, we need to pattern our arrangement like UK where we could have several nations within a country that will be called United Nigerian republics insted of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
There is nothing wrong calling the various republics/nations as Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ibibio, etc like Scotland for scottish, Wales for Welsh, Ireland for Irish, England for English.
It is share hypocrisy and avenue to prevent our greatness by enemies within and without (including the colonial Master) by insisting we should remain as we are. It will never work.
God is no fool by scattering the languages and making sure those who speak the same language live together and rule themselves without feeling exploited or dominated by people of other languages.
Nigeria should therefore be RESTRUCTURED along language/ethnic line. This will make each nation to explore maximise their potentials for the good of their people and the United republics as a whole.
If you believe this then spread it!!

Duroe:

It's no news that Nigeria is an armorphous of different ethnic nationalities lump together in one country. Yet we could be one if we agreed to recognize this and 'arrange' own political system to accommodate our diversity.
Unfortunately we are trying to copy America which is completely different from Nigeria in composition viz:
1. Indigenous americans are the red Indians who are in the minority now and like other identifiable ethnic minorities do not concentrate in a particular geographical location unlike in Nigeria where Yorubas, Ibos, Ijaws, Hausas and other ethnic groups have identifiable geographical areas.
2. USA was formed by each states joining the federation at different times while Nigerian ethnic nationalities were 'forcefully/ deceptively' merged together by slave traders called colonial masters.
3. Most 'indegenous' Americans are whites from Europe who 'ran' to that geographical areas as a result of a common problem- religious persecution unlike Nigeria, the common issue that brought the ethnic nationalities together is the convenience of administration by the colonial masters.

UK which is 4 countries within a country is one country that shared similar armorphosity with Nigeria. We have England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each with own languages. Each of them have some powers to govern themselves and even compete in international sporting events like olympic, football as individual counrties.

Therefore copying the USA Federalism cannot be suitable or bring peace to Nigeria.
If we do not want to split into pieces, we need to pattern our arrangement like UK where we could have several nations within a country that will be called United Nigerian republics insted of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
There is nothing wrong calling the various republics/nations as Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Ibibio, etc like Scotland for scottish, Wales for Welsh, Ireland for Irish, England for English.
It is share hypocrisy and avenue to prevent our greatness by enemies within and without (including the colonial Master) by insisting we should remain as we are. It will never work.
God is no fool by scattering the languages and making sure those who speak the same language live together and rule themselves without feeling exploited or dominated by people of other languages.
Nigeria should therefore be RESTRUCTURED along language/ethnic line. This will make each nation to explore maximise their potentials for the good of their people and the United republics as a whole.
If you believe this then spread it!!

In as much as we have problems with the current structure of the country, I think we shouldn't go as far as blaming the colonial masters for the current contraption we found ourselves. At indepedence, the British left Nigeria as a loose federation of 3 Nations. The Western, Eastern and Northern Nigerian regions. Each of these regions are allowed to administer their region the way they like. The northern Nigeria, remain a semi-feudal systems with the Chiefs and Emirs retaining a large chunk of authority in the form of Native Authority. Each community in the north where administered based on their Cultural heritage through their Chief and the District officer.

However, our forefathers, from Ironsi down, prefers the Unitary systems of government (may be because of their military heritage). Then after the civil war, the leaders at the time thought accelarating homegenisation by decentralising regional powers will reduce the prospect of another civil war. Fracturing the country into tiny peaces of 36 different states have succeeded in supressing potential dissent to central rule but have agravated the poverty and dependence on the central government for sustainance

@Arkinson. Good contribution. So do we continue like this? The present arrangement favours corruption by the ruling elites while it makes it difficult for secession by any section. Many people have died over the years from assassination, armed robbery, poverty related diseases, road traffic accident resulting from bad roads, high maternal and childhood mortality mostly resulting from poor healthcare delivery system as a result of irresponsible governance. Our corrupt leaders are being shielded by the federal might (once their party/men are at the centre) to the continue impoverisation of the poor masses and continued suppression of many talents. The present arrangements encourages mediocrity, nepotism, corruption, political irresponsibility and lack of accountability. The masses votes no longer count, instead we have political godfathers dictating who rule the nation and further anointing candidates for various elective (selective) positions with the wealth whose source is the stolen money belonging to the entire 150million people.
We should learn from a place like UK and adopt a fair and just arrangement where no ethnic group no matter how small their populationis will not feel suppressed by another. They will be able to develop at their own paces and have 90% of their destinies in their own hands. They will have the opportunity to hold their leaders to account for whatevr they do or fail to do while leading them.