A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed fears that Nigeria might not be able to accommodate itself as a single entity.
Atiku, made this statement on Tuesday, May 31, while speaking at the official launch of, “We Are All Biafrans”, a new book written by an activist, journalist and scholar, Chido Onumah, in Abuja.
The APC Chieftain lamented that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as currently constituted, is not working, adding that greater autonomy to States is the solution to the country’s multi-faceted internal crisis.
The former Vice President said the federal government’s powers dwindle those of States, making it difficult for States to carry out customised initiatives for their individual residents, a situation he said, “needs to change”.
“The federal government is too big and too powerful, relative to the federating units. “That situation needs to change and calling for that change is patriotic,” he opined.
He said, “Nigeria is not working, as well as it should, and part of the reason is the poor way we have structured our economy and governance especially since 1960.” Adding that, Nigerians have suffered for too long under a poorly-designed structure”.
Atiku, who was Nigeria’s Vice-President between 1999-2007, said the federal government can not foster national unity even with its enormous power, adding that it is worsening the country’s circumstances.
“An excessively powerful centre does not equate to national unity. Absolutely not. If anything, it has made our unity more fragile, our government more unstable and our country more unsafe. We must renegotiate our union in other to make it strong”.
Atiku therefore, urged Nigerians to desist from labeling those clamouring for a weak center in Nigeria’s political system.
“We must refrain from assuming that anyone calling for restructuring of our federation is working for the breakup of our country. Absolutely not. And I reject that notion,” he said.
The APC chieftain who chaired the book launch, urged Nigerians to embrace a restructured Nigeria, saying it will also reduce the importance politicians place on elections into federal positions.
“Greater autonomy, power and resources for state and local authorities will give the federation units greater freedom and flexibility to address local issues for their priorities and peculiarities. It will reduce the premium placed on capturing power at the centre. It will reduce insecurity. It will promote healthy rivalry among federations units”.
The launch was attended by former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, Civil Society leaders, Jubrin Ibrahim and Nnimo Bassey.
The book, which explains how the agitation for Biafra is actually a metaphor for all the tribes in the country, was reviewed by Chidi Odinkalu, a Professor of Law and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.
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