The reasonable and patriotic calls for constitutional decentralization/devolution of powers/federalism in Nigeria to relieve the country’s governance framework of its current dysfunction and ineptitude are perhaps, categorized into three;
i. The first is pro-regionalism (Afenifere & several notable sociopolitical groups; legal luminaries such as Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN and Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN, FCIArb; former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; some State Governors & traditional rulers etc.) and they advocate a return to six regional blocks/federating units in consonance with the current six geopolitical zones. It means, for instance, the North West region will have its “legal, geographical, administrative, political and economic” powers domiciled in one of the seven States therein as the regional headquarters while the remaining six will be subservient to that capital;
ii. The second, to which I belong (alongside revered lawyers such as Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN; some State Governors & Federal Legislators etc.) is not in support of regionalism but devolution of powers to the current 36 States, FCT and 774 LGAs. It means, for instance, that after self-standing for about two decades as Osun State, more “legal, geographical, administrative, political and economic” powers would be ceded to it such that a man from Ijebu-Ijesha in Oriade LGA of the State would have most of his government-related approvals obtained at Osogbo (which he’s already acquainted with) rather than travel to another man’s State designated as the new regional capital; and
iii. The third camp (comprising some clerics, lawyers, politicians, etc.), has not identified any clear-cut decentralized governance structure they would rather have. It means, for instance, that they are yet to take a position on the decentralized governance structure that they consider suitable to replace the current unitary system, although they frown at the continued over-centralization of powers that the 1999 constitution (as amended) promotes at the Federal level of government.
Therefore, as we advocate for constitutional decentralization/devolution of “legal, geographical, administrative, political and economic” powers once the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is sworn in on the 29th day of May 2023, which version do you support?
a. Six regional blocs
b. 36 States, FCT and 774 LGAs
c. I’m yet to identify a specific decentralized governance structure
d. I disagree with the idea of decentralization/devolution of powers/federalism
Dr Adetolu Ademujimi is a Medical Doctor, Author, Reformer, Coach and Public Policy expert who wrote in from Akure in Nigeria.
Email: ademujimi@yahoo.co.uk; Twitter: @toluademujimi; Instagram: @adetoluademujimi; Linkedin: @adetolu ademujimi
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