Nigerian Author, Poet and Journalist, Odia Ofeimun, has echoed the call for restructuring of the country arguing that the claim that there is no room for negotiation is itself a negotiation. The 67 years old, author of over 40 books, made this position known in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday.
Ofeimun explained that Nigeria is not having a minor crisis but a fundamental one which will not be resolved by simply amending the Constitution.
Giving examples of what he would like restructured, Ofeimun mentioned how Local Governments should be production centres which gives 40% of what it earns to the State Government which, in turn, does same to the Federal Government. He suggested that the Federal Government should allow the States be proper production systems instead of badging into the State systems. He also posited that the best fit system for Nigeria is a non-unitized and debased Federal system as presently operated, but a true Federalism.
Ofeimun also denounced the political correctness of tagging every analysis that affects a region insensitive. He expressed the position that restructuring is about improving the North and making it more inclusive in National development. He alleged that education in the North is being handled in a way that keeps the poor down and out of contest with the rich.
Federalism is a system that combines a general Government with regional government in a single structure. Australia, Brazil, Canada, as well as India, Malaysia, Germany, Russia, United States and Venezuela are some of the countries presently practicing the system. Nigeria ordinarily practices this system but critics say there is too much power at the Centre.
Nigeria has seen changes in its federating unit from on several occasions which led to the breaking down of the Eastern, Northern and Western Regions as follows:
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Eastern Region was divided into East-Central (Enugu), Rivers (Port Harcourt), and South-Eastern (Calabar) states;
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Northern Region was divided into Benue-Plateau (Jos), Kano (Kano), Kwara (Ilorin), North-Central (Kaduna), North-Eastern (Maiduguri), and North-Western (Sokoto) states
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Western Region was divided into Lagos (Lagos) and Western (Ibadan) states.
In 1976, the States were further reorganized,
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Benue-Plateau state divided into Benue (Makurdi) and Plateau states;
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East-Central state divided into Anambra and Imo (Owerri) states;
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Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) formed from parts of Niger and Plateau states;
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North-Eastern state divided into Bauchi (Bauchi), Borno, and Gongola (Yola) states;
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Niger (Minna) state split from Sokoto;
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Western state divided into Ogun (Abeokuta), Ondo (Akure), and Oyo states
After these, there were three other reorganizations cutting across 17 States. Some analysts say this made the federating units even weaker.
Odia Ofeimun had, in 2016, declare intention to run for Governorship of Edo State where he hails from. He was Secretary to Obafemi Awolowo who is known for his stance on true federalism.
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