BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, has said that the nation may not be able to overcome its challenges until a new constitution that guarantees the collective interest of the federating units is put in place.
Farounbi, who described the 1999 Constitution as a product of colonial administration, noted that the current presidential system of government was not the choice of Nigerians.
He said it was contrived to subjugate the people of other regions.
Farounbi, in a recent interview in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, lamented what he described as ‘the litany of challenges battling Nigeria,’ saying they were results of bad leadership.
He said the nation requires a constitution developed by civilians, which will consider the multi-ethnic and multi-religious realities of the country.
Advocating for a return to the regional system of government, Farounbi said, “In the history of Nigeria since 1914 till now, the only constitution ever made by a civilian regime was the 1963 Constitution.
“The 1914, 1922, 1941, 1946, 1951, 1954 and 1960 constitutions were made under the colonial administration. The only one that was made by the civilians for the people of Nigeria was that of 1963.
“Only if Nigerian youths can join hands together, they have what it takes in terms of numerical strength and mental capabilities to take over the mantle of leadership”
“Any theory in political science will tell you that where you have multi-ethnic and multi- religious settings like we have in Nigeria, the only structure (of governance) that you can have in place is federalism in which there is a centre vis-a-vis the federating units.
“By Decree number 18 of 1967, Gowon created 12 states – six in the North, ditto for the South, and vested in each state the powers of the region as that would have been the best for us. But, General Muritala Muhammed came and altered the balance by creating 21 states; 11 in the North and 10 in the South.”
Admonishing the youths to wake up and take over the political space of the country, Farounbi said they (the youths) have what it takes – in terms of numerical strength and mental capability – to take over the mantle of leadership.
“Only if Nigerian youths can join hands together, they have what it takes in terms of numerical strength and mental capabilities to take over the mantle of leadership. Unfortunately, they are not in unison. I became a General Manager at the age of 31. It wasn’t freely given to me; I worked for it,” he said.
On the agitation for Oduduwa Republic, Farounbi said a reasonable government would have considered the fact that for the Yoruba to clamour for self-determination, despite being the most accommodating and hospitable ethnic nationality in Nigeria, things must have gone wrong somewhere.
“Unfortunately, President Buhari seems not to be bothered. Though, this has been his trait even right from the military era; he never changed. Let me tell you this for free, the person in the villa is still the same Buhari you voted for. Don’t let anybody deceive you,” he said.
