Southern Leaders and Scholars Advocate for True Federalism

As Nigerians warm up for the proposed National Conference, it has become necessary for the various entities making up the country to strategies and have some kind of dress rehearsal in preparation for the big event to discuss the future of the world's largest black nation.



To this effect, leaders and scholars of the three geopolitical zones in the country's southern region met today at the Tinapa Resort in Calabar, Cross River State. At this Southern Leaders' Summit organised with the theme: The Challenges of Development and National Security, many speakers spoke on ways the southern region could present their opinions before the national conference.

One issue that virtually all the speakers at the conference agreed on, was the need for True Federalism to be practised in Nigeria. In his address, Prof. Godwin Darah stated that unity based on oppression, injustice and exploitation is negotiable. According to the scholar, if Nigeria is to continue as a nation, certain anomalies that must be addressed.

Prof. Darah noted that a situation whereby 10 states have to carry the burden of other states because of the 'caricature federation' in practise is not acceptable. He said that a clause was deliberately put (by our colonial masters) in the constitution to prevent development especially in the Southern region where a vast majority of the nation's resources are derived. That law he noted, was maintained in all post colonial constitutions of Nigeria, formerly by decree no. 51, and now Section 44:3.

The scholar noted that it is impossible for Nigeria to take advantage of her numerous resources and compete with other nations effectively when such killer clauses exist in the constitution. He stated that 'we can only compete when we have freed this country from those who have hijacked it'.

Darah also noted that 'injustice, oppression and exploitation are negotiable, if not I believe that the South is strong and educated to run a government of their own'. He stated his support for the creation of state police in order to address the security challenges of the country. This view was reiterated by another scholar, Prof. Olufemi Mimiko.

For Prof. Mimiko, the kind of federalism practised in Nigeria is 'a worked arrangement that is non-supportive of developemet. He noted that 'it is a misnomer for the federal government that was a creation of the federating units to be more powerful than the units'. The scholar noted that the items on the concurrent list gives the federal government too many areas to legislate on. He said it was necessary to 'generate a federal list that consist of only a few items'.

Prof. Mimiko also kicked against the present system where all the states have to depend on the federal-government-controlled police. He noted that 'it is not possible to gather intelligence when those policing have no knowledge of the environment'.

To address the high cost of governance associated with the Presidential System of government, Mimiko noted that he favoured a bi-cameral legislature but one of the houses, preferably the House of Representatives, could be part-time while the Senate can operate full time. The scholar advised that the right to bear arms for self defence is very important because of the security challenges in the country. He also advocated for a withdrawal clause to be enshrined in the constitution to allow any federating unit to withdraw whenever it wants to.

All the southern Governors also expressed support for many of these views. In different interviews with journalists, the agreed that the total neglect of the communities where the nation's resources are exploited needs to be addressed. They advocated for a true federalism where the states will be allowed to develop themselves and contribute meaningfully towards the progress of Nigeria.