…as Modibbo, others harp on power devolution
Eminent Nigerians and a former Tanzanian President, Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, have thrown their weight behind the call for total reforms and the restructuring of the Nigerian nation.
Handing down their various submissions at the third Annual Political Summit organised by a group, Save Democracy Africa, in Abuja at the weekend, the opinion leaders contended that restructuring should be supported by all as it would not break the country, but strengthen its unity.
Kikwete, on the occasion, said he had noted with dismay, the trend of things in Nigeria, warning that for the country to remain united and overcome insecurity challenges such as Boko Haram insurgency and militancy in the Niger Delta region, the country must introduce fresh reforms into its polity.
The submission of the ex-Tanzanian President, at the three-day summit, was also complemented by other discussants and opinion leaders in the country such as Alhaji Adamu Modibbo, a renowned educationist from Adamawa State (North East) and others like Prof. Sule Bello (North West), Ambassador Humphrey Orjiakor (South East), Chief Dipo Jimilehin (South West), Nela Andem-Rabana SAN (South South), Dr. Manzo Abubakar (North Central), Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani (civil society) and Mrs. Esther Uzoma (Gender Issues).
Modibbo particularly stressed the need for power devolution to enable the various states in the country to develop at their pace.
In a communique issued at the end of the summit, Kikwete and the other leaders said, “We totally support the reform and restructuring of Nigeria as an indivisible entity and hereby declare that restructuring is not and should not be seen as anti-government or anti-people, but an opportunity for the people of Nigeria to sit together and audit the present structure and agree on a blueprint for going forward in such a manner that allows for unhindered development, that gives every citizen a sense of belonging.”
Explaining the form of the anticipated restructuring, the discussants further said, “We support the devolution of more powers to the component federating units, thereby allowing them with more responsibilities to make them more viable and self-reliant. We, therefore, request for the unbundling of the 68-item Exclusive list, so as to allow states with more responsibilities and powers to develop and diversify, thereby reducing their dependence on the monthly allocation from the federation account.”
Kikwete and the others also said they supported “the enthronement of the principle of fiscal federalism/resource control, which shall allow communities and states to own their resources under an arrangement where sufficient royalties are paid to the Federal Government.”
They also called for a system of checks and balances “to promote accountability, entrench the rule of law, nurture political parties to grow, promote transparent and credible election and growth in our democracy.”
The discussants also tasked the Nigerian electorate “to strive to elect credible, visionary, selfless, prudent, intelligent and indefatigable leaders to superintend, credibly, the affairs of our nation, devoid of primordial interests and sentiments.”
“As part of the next alteration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the obnoxious provision prohibiting women from contesting election in places other than their paternal constituency be expunged, to give more access to women in electoral contests and appointments into public offices,” they added.
To engender unity, the discussants appealed that a deliberate policy be put in place by government at all levels to gradually reduce the citizen’s continued affinity to their respective tribes and religions.
“We call on political parties to canvass for and work hard to restore political party supremacy in our polity as that is the surest means to sustain democracy and to create effective insurance and safeguard against ascendancy of the rule of impunity and dictatorship by those supposedly elected on the same platform,” the discussants averred, in the communique.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Save Democracy Africa, General Yakubu Usman (retd), on the occasion, explained, “Save Democracy Africa is a group that advocates smooth running of democracy in Nigeria in particular, and Africa in general.
“We have noticed over the years that democracy, being the best form of government, is being threatened or has not been allowed to operate the way it should, and we felt it is necessary that such summits are organised so that politicians, organisations and stakeholders, who have similar views on how to sustain and improve upon our democratic practice, have an avenue to express themselves and come up with suggestions that can be forwarded to government; so that the practice of democracy in Nigeria and Africa at large can be improved.”
General Usman, who spent 35 years in the Nigerian army, noted that what the Summit had done was to offer suggestions to the government, stressing, “It is left to the government to listen to the cry of the people and work on it, as you can only force the horse to the river, but you cannot force it to drink.”
