₦airaland Forum

former National Security Adviser to the late Head of State Gen Sani Abacha, Hamzah Al-Mustapha.

He was a Chief Security Officer to Abacha, not a NSA.

Though a founding member of the ruling APC, there are strong indications that the former number two citizen might eventually settle for the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the event that Buhari decides to go for the race or anoint a particular candidate. The former vice-president had left the PDP twice.

This Atiku's ambition is beyond patriotism. This man wants the Presidency for personal vendetta against Obasanjo and others that have stood in the ways of his political victory in past. Nigerians refuse to be governed by drives from a personal ego. This one is crazy.

Being a former vice president, there are things he can do to help the present government. Besides, he is a loyal party man.

If he has a knowledge that can help the administration, why is he holding back? I cant believe they described a man who was founding member of PDP and abandoned that party twice and is now entertaining thoughts of leaving APC to return to PDP, as a LOYAL party man. Thats absurd!

FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA

NIGERIAN FEDERALISM
Origin of Nigerian Federalism; federalism is a system of government in which government power that exist in a country are shared between a central government that represents the whole country and government of components regions or states, so that each governments is legally and constitutionally independent and autonomous.
Nigerian Federalism can be traced far back to 1914, when the Northern and southern protectorates then amalgamated though with unitary form of administration, since then, governmental powers that existed in Nigeria started to be shared between the central governments headed by the Governor-General and the governments of Northern and southern protectorates headed by the lieutenant Governors. Therefore with the existence and recognition of two near autonomous parts of Northern and southern provinces, the administrative system outlook of a federalism

MAJOR CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCES THAT LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA
it was lyttenton constitution of 1954 that finally entrenched the features of federal system of government in Nigeria and the two constitutional conference that led to the promulgation of the constitution were
(1) The London Constitutional Conference
(2) The Lagos Conference of 1954
LONDON CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE OF 1953
Due to the defects of McPherson Constitution some of which were: the constitution vested too much veto and reserved power on the Governor; it limited the power of the regions in making laws and also, the law made by them had to be approved first before they could be allowed to operate, e.t.c “to provide for greater regional autonomy and for removal of power of intervention by the centre”. Nigeria leaders were invited by the Secretary to London to review the constitution. A team of 19 delegates, which comprised six representatives from the Cameroon’s were sent to London. The conference which sat down between July 30 and August 22, 1953 reached, many agreements among which were
(1) That Her Majesty’s Governments could grants self-governments to those regions, which desired it in 1956.
(2) That legislative power should be shared between the federal state and the federating units.
(3) That a conference to be held in Lagos in 1954, should ratify a separate regional administration in the cameroons if the people of the territory expressed their desire through a referendum
(4) That Lagos should be separated from the Western Region and made a neutral federal territory.
(5) That the Region Lieutenants-Government should be called Governor while the Governor of Nigeria should be called Governor-General.


THE LAGOS CONFERENCE OF 1954
In order to settle some unresolved political problems by the 1953 London Conference, the Lagos Conference, met in January 1954, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of the state for the colonies. The conference published in December 1953 and arriver at the following decision.
(1) That the public service should be regionalized
(2) That the judiciary should be regionalized
(3) Accept in principle the proposals put forward by the fiscal commission on the allocation of financial resources to the federal and regional government
(4) That though southern cameroons should remain part of Nigeria Federalism as a quasi-federal territory it should have a legislatures of its own.
(5) That autonomy should be granted to the southern cameroons

FACTORS NECESSITATING FEDERALISM IN NIGERIAN
(1) To protect the interest of minority groups
(2) The large population and wide geographical are of Nigeria
(3) To ensure rapid and even development of all part of Nigeria
(4) To bring government nearer to the people of Nigeria
(5) To expand the local market
(6) Differences in culture, region, language, custom, tradition, etc among different ethnic group
(7) The fear of one ethnic group dominating other necessitated the establishment of federalism in Nigeria
(8 ) To make it possible for diverse law that will suit the diverse communities in Nigeria
(9) In order to preserve the local independence or autonomy of every ethnic group in Nigeria
(10) In order to form a common and stronger government to secure the sovereignty of Nigeria

FEATURES OF NIGERIAN FEDERALISM
(1) Adoption of a written and rigid constitution.
(2) The supremacy of the constitution
(3) The supremacy of the federal government
(4) Existence of bicameral legislature in Nigerian
(5) Constitution repudiation of secession
(6) The division of Nigerian into unequal regions/states

PROBLEMS OF NIGERIAN FEDERALISM
• Revenue Allocation: Revenue allocation refers to the sharing of revenue and other resources generated in the country among the federal and state government. These revenue are shared among the three tiers of governments according to their constitutional responsibilities
• Minority issues and creation of state: Due to the multi-ethnic nature of Nigeria which brought about the issue of minorities has constituted one of the problems militating against the development of the country; Nigerian has three major ethnic group of Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba and multiplicity of minor ethnic groups.
There were political agitations for creation of states by minority groups especially those in the mid-western region, the Middle Belt or Northern Region and the Calabar, River Niger Delta and Ogoja of the Eastern Region as a panacea to domination of the minorities.
• Inter-ethnic Rivalry: Since Nigeria is made up of multi-ethnic, the rivalry among Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba has been a serious issue. The major issue that brings about rivalry is the question of leadership of the country, none of the three major ethnic group wants to concede the leadership of the country to the other because they are aware that who ever gets political power first, all other things shall be added unto them. The creation of more state in the country has not in any way reduced the intensity of inter-ethnic rivalry.
• Issue of secession: The inter-ethnic rivalry in Nigeria contributed a lot in delaying the independent of the country, which should have taken place in 1956. This rivalry especially when the country should be granted the status of an independent nation led to the threat of secession by the Northerners.



Posted by FADIPE.S.OYINLOLA at 5:28 AM

http://accessportal..com/2009/07/federalism-in-nigeria.html

MayorofLagos:
IGR should be our new federal character. How much is your state contributing?

Mayor,
This is a good idea but I believe you need to expand and explain in more than just one sentence.

We have to disrupt all unwritten arrangements and even the written ones so we can reset and reconfigure Nigeria to fit the components. In the case that cannot be accomplished then dissolve it along the river banks and let people find their level.

There is a part of truth in that Sokoto did not originally belong to Fulani.

Great Contribution, love it!

TonyeBarcanista:
I condemned Buhari for Nepotistic appointment, not because I hate the north but because I am an advocate of justice!!!

Why should PYO appoint 9 yorubas as Personal staffs out of 10? This is the first time a VP will do that since 1999.

He is a bigot, he will NEVER win 2019.

Because they are personal staff, not members of cabinet. Federal character does not extend into personal staff. He can make all 10 of the staff all Yoruba if he wants, they are discretionary appointments and a privilege.

Tell the North to stock up on handkerchief and tissues to wipe tears....more shenanigans are ahead to break their heart.

Thanks OP.

Even if there was, his revelation about Osinbajo is not an abnormal in democratic settings. Buhari said he is sorrounded by people of Northern origin because he needs his staff to be people he can trust. Why can't Osinbajo encircle himself with Yorubas? Whats wrong in that? In fact if he did not he will not be seen as a credible leader.

Amarabae:
Good point raised.
I hate injustice, it irritates me,
South west have had an 8years presidency under OBJ and currently a 4yrs vice presidency under Osibanjo.
So whats the noise for an osibanjo 8yrs presidency?
Are there no other geopolitical zones in this country? Its funny that some people who shouted Sai buhari in 2015 are secretly praying for him to die.
This kind of self centered selfish politics should stop please.
I have nothing against a liberal northerner being President.

I read the comments through these pages. Though we do not readily admit, but it is evident that the positions of President and VP are symbolic gains that move our ethnocentric society into influence and confer privileges of supremacy.

The ethno-political relevance and power to subordinate rival ethnics is therefore hinged on who is in posession of the trophy. Whichever ethnic group posesses the trophy earns the right to control which region in Nigeria grows and which will decay. It is therefore urgent and critically important for ethnic groups to realize the danger and consequence of the trophy ending up in posession of their adversary. It's a political calculation and so far no ethnic group has demonstrated understanding odf the underlying importance and responded to it with firm competence as the Yorubas. The Yorubas are so versatile in their grip of Nigerian politics that even when not in posession of the trophy themselves they find other tangibles in the political structure to counteract the glory of the trophy and thus diminish its true worth to the holder. This is what they do when in opposition to a ruling regime. They are the only ones that are excluded from power in the center but yet continue to outgrow the center. No other region has been able to do it or even demonstrate remote capability to grow organically when excluded from power sharing in the center.

While colonialists fed other regional leaders koolaid on the generous legacies they are bequesting as they wind down colonial rule and set target date for independence, they displaced Awolowo and his Egbe Omo Oduduwa later AG) from the center. He in turn went into opposition and with his fellow Yorubas built a far more superior and long lasting legacy, accomplishing in one decade what the colonialists failed to accomplish anywhere in the country in a century of ruling the land.

Yorubas are the only ones to successfully use political party as a vehicle to run parallel government to the center. Under UPN in 1979 and to 1983 they controlled all their states, plus Bendel. They owned opposition to the ruling government.

After MKO mandate was denied, they also used a combination of political party and political movement (NADECO, OPC, AD) to run a parallel government that frustrated the center under Abacha and ultimately under Abdulsalami, and ended up forcing Nigeria to succumb to their demands.

Under Yardua's PDP they repeated the 1979 feat and put ACN in control in West.

When Jonathan succeded Yaradua and marginalized West, they faced their front and acted as if the center did not exist....waiting for the opportuned time to use the power of opposition to topple him, which they accomplished in a new strategy of mergers and acquisitions across the country.


When we talk of Nigerian politics we must recognize Yorubas for doing things on the landscape that no one else has ever been close to doing - defining the political trophy for its worth and competing against the center!

May her soul and her husband's rest in peace.

I did not know there is something called "Judiciary Industry". I know of legal profession.

wale101010:
Why Are Igbos Not Dociled or Easily Controlled Like Other Ethnic Groups/Tribes? I have followed this country in history and experience, one thing is certain with respect to unshackling Nigeria from the control of foreign forces and bondage, the Igbos resistance and stubbornness as clearly seen from history and also cited in many colonial books by whites. You cannot dictate for this people and neither can you put them in box. From 1960s to date, they are the only major ethnic group that have tried many times and continue to try to unshackle all us from this bondage we are under.

..but Nnamdi Kanu is in docile mode. He doesn't have to respect any of the conditions given him by the court. He can flaunt all of them, but why is he not? Is he not Igbo? The zoo is dictating to him how to conduct himself and he has not crossed the line drawn for him. Has he stopped being Igbo?

OP, please find another reason to explain why Igbo is the way you say they are.

This governor is still fresh. After a couple of goofs to the press and some rebuke from and backlash from the electorate he will adjust to politically correct utterances. Forgive him on this one slip.

greenermodels:
what concerns Biafra with his state? why are some Yoruba trying to hijack the Biafran struggle into their call for restructuring? that's how osibanjo and obasanjo hosted a Biafra@50 lectures without any participation from massob and ipob.these sort of behavior is what is partly causing the lack of trust between the two major southern tribes.everybody should face their struggles squarely.

Ohanaeze was there and you all cheered and acknowledged the speech delivered by Nnia Nwobodo. They wanted a legitimate group that speak for Biafra, MASSOB and IPOB are illegitimate groups.

Marvellouzkk:
Thieves everywhere

Marvell, get in touch when you can.

They refer to Kanu as, "our supreme leader" or "his royal highness".

"Kanu is my saviour,"

"Just like Jesus was sent to save the world, Kanu was sent by God himself to save the Igbo people."

more students are reading pro-Biafran books and followers of Kanu hold "evangelism" meetings to preach the gospel of pro-Biafra.

"The southeast feels it has been politically marginalised. There is a point to that. It has been shrunken from being one of the three major regions of the country to now being virtually a minority with the smallest number of states of the six zones in the federation," explains Nnamdi Obasi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

[/quote][quote]He says that there has only been one Igbo president and one Igbo vice president since Nigeria declared independence from the UK in 1960.


"I hope you have a copy of the election results," Buhari responded to the woman. "Naturally, the constituencies that gave me 97 percent cannot, in all honesty, be treated [in the same way] on some issues with constituencies that gave me five percent. I think this is a political reality."

"They say that secession is the answer to the charges of marginalisation," said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo during a Biafra civil forum last week in Abuja. "Brothers and sisters, permit me to differ and to suggest that we're greater together than apart."

Lobatan!
E don pafuka!

Bola ilori - Commissioner for Regional Integration

Interesting!

For days, the Igbo seeking refuge from the Northern progrom were denied food and water... They started crying.. Begging the palace to give them water in their local Igbo dialect "nye mu mmiri " but the northern civilian heard nya miri..

I didn't know the politics section was this engaging and provoking until recently. Since my registration I had completely focused in culture section and ever rarely step into politics section. I am awed by the experience and utter nonsense I have encountered here in the short time. I think I need to get back to culture before I am sucked into this craze in this section.

Anyway, on the quote above, is it possible that these Igbos that knew the way to enter Birni and go to Emir's palace also know how to speak and ask for water in Hausa, instead of their Ibo language? If so, is it not even more provoking and insulting, and if I may add, self-destructing to ask in the presence of the enemy and his King for food and water in a language other than theirs?

The first thing armies all over the world are taught before going to war is the culture and basic interactive words of their opponent. The logic is simple....in case you end up a prisoner of war, remain loyal to your country but respect the culture of those in whose captivity you find yourself!

uncle's beans rice

Which one is it, beans or rice, make up your mind.

I agree with OP, in that Anglican Church should have stayed neutral and neither give or withdraw support. Don't acknowledge it and don't deny it...simple!

Nonetheless, no need to start targeting Anglican with retaliatory boycotts. Give them the message you want them to learn and show how you want them to respond next time.

“We are therefore calling on men and women of good conscience across the globe, United Nations, European Union, African Union, Amnesty International and other relevant human rights organizations including Human Rights Watch to call Nigerian government and its security operatives to order.

All the men and women of good conscience around the globe has been accused of one thing or the other by Biafra and denigrated for the position they took between 66 and 70. There is no men and women of good conscience left to aid you in time of distress, you burnt the bridges already!

Besides, aren't you supposed to be a tribe of brave warriors? Which warrior stock runs for protection everytime it's under a seeming attack?

Odingo1:
Igbos have the highest population in Nigeria,followed by Hausa, then Yoruba,Kanuri, Ijaw, Fulani .........
It is very clear,anytime you enter SE there is always a hold up everywhere and 99% are Igbos and if you go to any other state in Nigeria atleast Igbos have 25% presence in all the states in Nigeria and about 40% presence in Lagos and Abuja.

A good test of your claim and that of OPs is to assess the poll performance when Ibos vote. APGA, the Ibo party is struggling even in its own home region. Then you supported PDP 99% in last election and yet you couldnt win Imo state. PDP could not even carry all your SE states, with your 99% support. You were thrashed in North, thrashed in West. So can you defend this defeat of Ibo in every geo political zone in the nation?

Ochinex:
Before you think any thing negative against me or the article am going to put down, I should say Yes, am a bonifide Igbo dude and hey, i reside in the north.

Apparently, at time I hear Hausas and Yoruba's are higher in population than the Igbos and other ethnic groups, of a true am bewildered because from normal analysis, the Igbo's are enormous and vast compelled to any other tribe in the Country..

The Igbo is known to have suffered Marginalization right after the Civil war ( war the British helped Nigerians, killing innocent civilians and gave them 20ponds to start all over) Marginalizing them, Politically, Economically and otherwise. The Igbo's are still strong and still rule the country's Economy even without the help of the So-called government.

Now back to my Point, I said, the Igbos are higher in Population than any other tribe in the country. I have my Solid and Empirical Backings to support my saying...

An Average Hausa man does not travel, Nationally and Internationally. I've stayed in the north for over 20 years, and have observed them for many years, believe you me they Dont Travel. Why would they travel? What Lucrative business can they do apart from the north were they sell meat, clothes and shoes, by the road side imported from Aba? would they dare come to the East and compete with the Easterners in business line? I Dont think so.
Upon the Hausa's being at their base, the north seems Empty and Scanty.. I have been to Jigawa, Kastina and Kebbi all you see there are the Fulanis and Niger's which you can't call Hausas. Indeed, their lands are intimidating but scanty. Down here in the east, I can bet you the Hausas all combined are not up to 1million.

Same applies to the Yorubas. They don't travel.. infact, I haven't seen any Yorubas In the East, and little or non in the north. Remember, Lagos in no mans' land, and the population between Igbos and Yorubas are 50-50. Yorubas are very rare to find, except in their land ( Osu, Ondo,Oyo.. Ilorin has been taken by the Fulanis chasing majority of the Yorubas out and tuning some to Muslim by force.)and some travels abroad eg London and some European countries cause have been to london before and I know what am saying.

Coming down to the East, they are all over the country and internationally like in the Usa, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Germany etc, they own these places. In fact their is a say, if you Dont fine any Igbo man in a particular place,country, that place is the most unsecured place in this world. Igbos are all over the country to the extent they now install Eze and created kingdoms anyplace they settle because of the vast populations.eg Lagos, Ilorin, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna and Abuja etc even abroad

Igbos are over populated in the East, and have moved further to other states to colonize their Economy.

My point is, The Hausa population is not what you think it is, the Yorubas are not even close ..
I drop my pen.

No tribalism, I only stated how it is ..

Mr,
There is no society in the world worth of its political standing where census and or population count is done by speculation. No where in the world! You guys always come up with ideas that flow counter and inefficient for the global human stream.

Change your ways and stop according yourselves positions on the totem pole before it has been rightluflly earned, and acknowledged by the general society.

At this rate Kanu will soon perform miracle. Once that happens he will automatically be canonised by Ibos and we can expect a new following in the frame of "The Biafran Church of Holy Rabbi - Saint Kanu Dominion"

This is serious.

Is the sit at home for Ibos living in SE, or for every person residing in SE, regardless of ethnicity?

Yoruba first, then any other identity can come after that....

This is coming amid fears over alleged plans by security operatives to open fire on the agitators who shall be observing a sit-at-home to mark the 50th year of Biafra declaration.

I don't understand the rationale here for this alert. Ohaneze sometimes talk and act in ways counter to Ibo interest.

If people are observing sit-at home, genuinely, then who is going to be on the street to get shot? Do they plan a street protest in addition to the sit-at home, or why would Biafrans be out on street en-masse to even give any cause for them getting shot?

Jakumo:
As it is with human beings, there a good snakes, and there are downright devious and evil snakes, the latter of which should be killed instantaneously and with extreme prejudice, when encountered. Unfortunately the laws of the land do not permit civilians to dispatch evil people. That is the job of the judiciary and the police.

In the case of snakes, however, any person who encounters them can assign themselves emergency executive powers as judge, jury and executioner, without fear of arrest by the police on charges of willful snake homicide. The only thing that gives this hunter more pleasure than allowing non-poisonous snakes to live, is blasting venomous ones to kingdom come without a care in the world. Once a deadly snake is killed, there is ZERO chance of meeting it again, which is VERY good for my health.

You this guy, na wah for you o. See as you dey talk of killing animals with no conscience at all. Do you eat snake? Why kill it just for fun since you dont eat it?

Jakumo:
Chai ! Diariz God o. Abi you be Professor of Snakeology ? See as you take vex begin dey nak big big grammar like this.

Ok just wait me here, make I go find my dictionary come begin dey show you pepper with my own grammar. No run o. Wait me I dey come.

you are not serious! Yes you are correct, the thing pain me seeing those helpless snakes like that and I think I wrote with that state of mind.

In all seriousness, Oga MetaPhysicality, I kill venomous snakes right away if there is any chance at all that I may encounter them later, perhaps by stepping on them in the dark. Given a choice between nature preservation and avoiding a slow, agonizing and horrible death by snake poison, my habit thus far in life has been to rack a shell into the chamber of my 12-gauge Winchester Model 1200 shotgun, and administer the big boom in a flash, thankful that I saw the snake before he saw me.

yeah, but thats out of your own experience and encounters. Dont teach others to take that same route. You are a hunter, no doubt you know when it comes to sense of smell and sight animals surpass humans capability to see and perceive objects miles away. God forbid this, but imagine a snake senses your approach and lay siege on you before your awareness of its presence. Wouldn't that be predatory? A venomous snake is laying on the tree branch, just sun bathing, not bothering you passingby, why pump bullets in it? If you do and bring the picture here I hope to God I dont see it.

Jakumo:
As it is with human beings, there a good snakes, and there are downright devious and evil snakes, the latter of which should be killed instantaneously and with extreme prejudice, when encountered. Unfortunately the laws of the land do not permit civilians to dispatch evil people. That is the job of the judiciary and the police.

In the case of snakes, however, any person who encounters them can assign themselves emergency executive powers as judge, jury and executioner, without fear of arrest by the police on charges of willful snake homicide. The only thing that gives this hunter more pleasure than allowing non-poisonous snakes to live, is blasting venomous ones to kingdom come without a care in the world. Once a deadly snake is killed, there is ZERO chance of meeting it again, which is VERY good for my health.

You definitely are not a good hunter. Hunters respect the animal kingdom and their natures. You have violated the principle of life and ecological co-dependency between humans and beasts. You need to be trained on proper ethos of hunting.

Jakumo:
A Swiss man I know was nearly blinded for life, after attempting to add a spitting cobra to his snake collection while he lived in Nigeria. Milk was hastily poured into his eyes, and after about a week, he was able to see again. Were it not for that quick remedy, that would have been the end of the man's eyesight, for good.

On another occasion, when the only weapon handy was a pellet-firing air-gun, I shot and missed several times at a cobra that "returned fire" by spitting repeatedly at me from its hiding spot in the rafters of a chicken coop, in Nigeria. The spit comes out not as a wad, like human spit, but as a continuous stream, akin to the water pistols children play with on hot days, and the accurate range of the acid stream varies from 10 to 15 feet, depending on the size of the cobra.

Every single one of those black cobras indigenous to Nigeria, and bearing those distinctive red or yellowish bands on the underside of the neck can and will spit when threatened. There is no such thing as a black cobra in Nigeria that does not spit. They all do, and they can fire from any position, rather than just when they rear up and spread that hood around then neck area.

Sir,
This is normal for any animal to see strangers and objects and develop a fear of the unknown. This is typical of all beasts! Until the cobra know you and recognize you are harmless, its first response is kill or be killed! We lack respect for animals...and when they react in their instinctive nature we call them deadly and want to kill them. Have you ever seen an animal that is not deadly? It calls for respect. Now, since you know cobra so well, now tell me this, doesn't cobra only attack after knowing you are aware and have located its position....and will even attempt to slide out of your view and hide, its only if you make a spontaneous motion or a jerk towards it that it snaps and then spits. Correct?

So don't give cobra bad name or put fear in people. Instead teach of the way to show respect to it and not bother it. If anyone see a cobra in their yard, the moment you spot it and you see eye to eye with it, it knows you are aware of its presence and spot and you may try to claim that territory so its ready to do battle. It will try to conceal itself from you. Dont chase it. Call people that are trained in trapping and relocating snakes. If you cant afford to do that then keep your eyes trained on it but do not get close, do not follow it...just stay in one spot and follow with your eyes. Sometimes cobra behave as if they are ashamed and will try to hide from your gaze. Please, please, do not make sudden motion, do not follow it with footsteps...eyes only. It can do a double on you and what you judge to be a safe distance isn't really safe when it comes to cobra, they are fast ...and furious! Just use your eyes to shame it away...and always be ready to block your eye area even while it retreats from you. They are beautiful animals but misunderstood due to fear.

OP,
Stop killing these snakes, they have not harmed you or your chicken. They have learnt through their own evolution that human habitations provide good source of food. What you should do is discover what kind of food they like and set up a feeding area away from your doorstep or where kids play so they can come, eat and dissapear, without causing harm. This is not good at all. Tidy up your backyard, it looks filthy. Do that first and then setup a shelter feeding area for the snakes. Very soon you will start noticing that they guard your compound against intruders and dangers because they can sense any danger to your is threat to their source of food and they will protect that interest. Do not kill snakes anymore pal.