By Razaq Bamidele
Two burning issues of restructuring and true federalism took centre stage at a symposium to mark the June 12 Democracy Day.
Themed: Federalism: Antidote to National Insecurity, the event was organised by the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) at the Admiral Ndubuisi Parks, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, June 11.
Notable among important dignitaries that were present at the event were some core foundation members of NADECO, such as Comrade Ayo Opadokun, the General Secretary of the Coalition and the Coordinator of the event; Dr Fred Agbeyegbe, a legal luminary; erudite columnist and international scholar, Dr. Amos Akingba; vocal right activist and Head of Political Science Department, Lagos State University, Ojo, Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, and retired ColonelTonyNyiam
.
They were also joined by other activists like Comrades Linus Okoroji, Nelson Ekunjimi, Raji Oyewumi, Tessy Urabir, , Dr Kolawole Afolabi, Foluso Aminu, the late Ndubuisi Kanu’s daughter, Samanta, a lawyer and Ondo State gubernatorial aspirant, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, Hon. Olawale Oshun and many artisans and peasants.
All the discussants, while stressing the need for restructuring that would ensure true federalism in the country without further delay, however, warned that complacency on the matter could be perilous, insisting that, “the only way forward for Nigeria is through restructuring of the country along with true federalism.”
A minute’s silence was observed in honour of the NADECO leader, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, who passed on in January. He had succeeded the first leader, the late Senator Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, who, before his demise, doubled as the leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political association, Afenifere.
Setting the ball of discussion rolling at the one-day symposium, Opadokun recalled the reason for the formation of NADECO, which he described as a child of necessity, to put the military junta where they rightly belonged.
According to him, the cup of excesses of the military was overly filled up when they had the effrontery to annul the adjudged freest, fairest and most credible election ever held in the history of Nigeria. He said it was a day when all Nigerians irrespective of their religions, ethnic leaning and political affiliations defied all odds to troop out en masse to vote.
The outcome of that election, Opadokun explained, was roundly won by the presidential candidate of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, of blessed memory. The said election was held on Saturday, June 12, 1993 and was sadly annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (retd).
The symposium was organised by NADECO to commemorate the sad day that the NADECO the symposium.
In his remarks, Fred Agbeyegbe described successive administrations since 1999 as obstacles to restructuring, warning that only a people’s constitution can reposition the country.
To Nyiam, the over-centralisation of security was injurious to federalism. he urged Nigerians to continue their agitations for devolution of powers.
His words: “The idea of having a centralised electoral commission undermines federalism. A centralised electoral commission can be manipulated by the central government.”
Akhaine, Head of Political Science Department, Lagos State University, Ojo, said the wish of the people and constitution framework were the key factors required for the consummation of a federal principle.
He added: “The people must agree before they can be in a federation.”
The university don also said that in federalism, only the central and states or regions are component units, adding that local councils should be the creation of the state.
He emphasised that in Nigeria only the federal and states are two tiers of government.
Oshun, former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, said the constitution review embarked upon by the National Assembly was a joke.
He added: “The National Assembly cannot write a constitution for Nigeria. We can only have one country if we hearken to the wish of Nigerians to put a people’s constitution together to give effect to restructuring and true federalism.”
At the end of the deliberation, a communiqué, signed by Opadokun, the organisation endorsed the Southern Governors’ resolution at their meeting in Asaba, Delta State, where the forum decided to forward a strongly worded letter to President Muhammadu Buhari to reiterate its rejection of the 1999 Constitution that was imposed by the military.
According to the communiqué, NADECO stated that since the ethnic nationalities have no independent institution for crisis resolution and redress of injustice, it has resolved to transmit a letter of complaint to eight (8) world personalities and institutions, including United Nations Secretary-General, the UN Security Council, the President of the United States and Speaker of Congress and Leader of US Senate; the European Union and Parliament, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the House of Commons, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the President of Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of Nigeria, and two leading traditional rulers in each of the six zones.
The Coalition also warned that “any delay to prevent the occurrence of national crisis and upheaval in Nigeria with about 200 million citizens would be detrimental to the peace and well-being of its region.”
NADECO lamented the lack of justice and fairness in the unitary system, saying that only restructuring can restore true federalism. It insisted that only the representatives of the ethnic nationalities can write a new constitution for Nigeria, and not the National Assembly (NASS), which is accused of toying with constitution review.
