A THOUGHT ON PROPOSED REGIONAL GOVT
Arguably, Nigeria’s First Republic (1960-1966) represented our “golden era” in terms of our progressive journey to both “regional” and “national developments”. It remains debatable on whether our “progressive journey” in the First Republic was either due to the quality of our then leadership from all the regions, and or it was the “governance” structure operated in the country at that time or both.
In my view, no Nigerian from whatever parts of the country should be afraid of any constitutional changes or even a “brand new” constitution in form of either a “regional system” if it will serve our best interest and or the continuation of the present system with some amendments. Our major concern from all parts of the country should be about the search for patriotic leadership and a system that will serve the interest of the majority.
The sad reality of our dear country now shows that the vast majority are worse off. The system only works for the tiny minority of our elite. We must have a national conversation, and or a dialogue on a system that works for the vast majority. The beneficiaries of the present system will go to every length to ensure that it remains.
In my thought, a Southern president is not the problem of the North, neither a Northern president the problem of the South. Out of our 64 years of independence the North led the country for 48 years while the South led for 16 years. Out of the 16 leaders we have had so far 12 are from the North while only four are from the South yet the North has the highest poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy rates in the country. No ethnic group or region, and or religion is an Island of milk and honey. We are all in its together!
The agitation for restructuring or constitutional amendment is more pronounced in the South. The Southern elite often accused the Northern elite of being too comfortable with the present arrangement due to the North’s numerical strength in terms of voting in an ethnically, regionally and religiously sentimental country.
There is a consensus that our dear country
needs a surgical operation for it to work for the majority of us. We must accept the fact that the present system does not benefit majority. It is equally a fact that the patriotism of most our present leaders needed much to be desired. Our dear Northern elite should and or must participate on a constructive national conversation or dialogue with their compatriots in order to discuss the future of our dear country.
Perhaps in response to the said insinuation by the Southern elite against the Northern elite; few weeks ago the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) stated in clear terms that the North is not afraid for any engagement with their compatriots in a national conversation or a dialogue on the future of Nigeria.
It is apt to state that, our huge human and natural resources in the country are largely untapped. The little resources being tapped only benefits the tiny minority elite. We really need an effective system with a patriotic leadership that will ensure that our both human and natural resources are tapped for the benefit of the vast majority of our people.
Nurudeen Dauda, Kaduna State,
