Reversing the Catalogue of Errors and Averting a Looming Inferno in Nigeria -By Tony Osakpamwan Agbons

The Nigerian media space has been brimming with accusations and counter accusations in the last few weeks.  The level of insecurity in the land has reached a precociously dangerous proportion and the entire polity is over heated.  The country`s security architecture is overwhelmed and helpless citizens are feeling unsafe as the atmosphere is tensed while the government seem unable to proffer solutions. The more than a decade old insurgency remains unresolved. Banditry, kidnappings, herdsmen/farmers clashes, and other criminalities has assumed unimaginable heights. The citizenry has been left with no option than to resort to self-help.

Issues got to a head few days ago when two sitting state Governors – Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State got entangled in the imbroglio throwing jibes at each other.  The apparent systemic failure has snowballed and the proverbial chicken has finally come home to roast, and the country is on a cliff edge.  The question on the lips of many well-meaning Nigerians is how did we get here?

Look no further as we go down memory lane. 1st October 1960 – independence from Britain. Nigeria had regional governments using the British Westminster Parliamentary System; 15th January 1966 – First Military coup. Top politicians from North, West and Mid-West are killed by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu and other young Ibo officers. No Ibo politician was killed.  The President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe travelled abroad on a vacation. Eastern Premier, Sir Michael Okpara was spared. Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafewa Balewa was killed along with both the Northern and Western Premiers, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Samuel Akintola. The Finance Minister, Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh from the Mid-West was also killed. General Aguiyi-Ironsi (an Ibo) becomes Head of State. He was the most senior officer, and truth be told, he was not part of the coup.

Next steps. General Aguiyi-Ironsi appointed Military Governors for the regions (North, East, West and the Midwest). A unitary system of government was decreed into being and our Federal system was nailed to the wall of oblivion. The Eastern Military Governor, Emeka Ojukwu was not happy with the unitary system and made reservations.  Ojukwu was in support of retaining the federating regional system; General Ironsi had arrested the January coup plotters, majority of whom were Ibo officers. They were detained in different prisons in Nigeria. Fast forward to 29th July 1966 – 2nd military coup led by Northern Officers takes place. General Ironsi killed in Ibadan along with his host, Adekunle Fajuyi, Military Governor of Western region.  Ibo Coup plotters in detention were killed in various locations. Major Nzeogwu manages to escape. Pogrom in the North and many Nigerians of Ibo extraction killed.  Yakubu Gowon becomes Head of State. Tension remains in the land. Emeka Ojukwu, the Eastern regional Military Governor refuses to acknowledge Gowon as Head of State. Gowon decrees the creation of twelve states from the 3 major federating regions. That was the end of regional system of governance.  Emeka Ojukwu pushes for reversal to regional system.  More killings of easterners in the North. They begin to return home; January 1967 to January 1970 – Civil war breaks out, after the failure of the Aburi Accord.  Over 3 million lives lost, mostly easterners.

A cursory look at the above chronicle shows that Nigeria has been on a fake federal system from January 1967 till date; be it Military or Civilian rule. The country has been operating a unitary system albeit a federal structure on paper. All Powers are with the Federal Government and there is too much power at the central. Today, analysts agree that what has become of Nigeria is nothing but a catalogue of errors since independence in 1960. Yes, the politicians of the first republic were misbehaving but many think they probably would have learnt from their mistakes with time. The first and second military coups were an aberration.  So, where the others that followed until the return to democratic rule in 1999.

What then is the Solution? Considering our ethnic and tribal diversity, a true federal system of government is the best way forward for Nigeria. Our current elected office holders and representatives must take the bull by the horn and change the status quo via a peaceful constitutional process in order to avert the looming inferno.  We may as well vote in Angel Michael and Angel Gabriel from Heaven to be Nigeria`s next President and Vice President under our current system, nothing will work, nothing will change.  At the rate, we are going, the country is falling apart, and the centre may not hold for long as posited by the literary icon, Chinua Achebe.  It is common sense to change a system that is not working. The current political elite must therefore wake up to avert the looming danger.  The nation is on the precipice and verge of collapse.  It is therefore imperative for them to heed the call, listen to the voice of reason and restructure Nigeria as a True Federal System where the federating units (states) can grow at their own pace simplicita.

Dr Agbons writes from the United Kingdom