MARCH 11th, 2014
BACKGROUND
The Nigerian
State as designed in 1914
presupposed that we would live together in harmony as a nation. Yes, we could have and still can, if those
charged with restructuring our political architecture do so with all sincerity
and a complete appreciation of why Nigeria still has a myriad of
problems 100 years after.
The primary goal for the National Confab appears to be the
devolution of the power at the center and a push for strong federalism and not
a push for separatism. We believe the goal is to achieve strength in our
diversity based on the unity of Nigeria.
We subscribe to the proviso that “the
unity and corporate existence of Nigeria”
should be kept sacrosanct as long as there is a complete restructuring of the current
governmental system so that more power resides in the regions and States of a
new Nigeria.
At independence, Nigeria had 3 regions which were the
Federating Units. In 1963, they became
four with the creation of the Midwestern
Region after a national plebiscite, the only region so properly and
constitutionally created.
The regions had
autonomy, their own flags, anthems,
constitutions, legal structures, local police forces, etc. Only common
services, like customs, immigration, Armed Forces, Foreign affairs, and common currency
were handled by the Federal government. Other items like Education, Health, Local
government, Land, Mineral resources etc were vested in the regional government.
The regions were thus competitive, productive and developed progressively,
This paper represents the views of the Committee of concerned
Benin Elders on some of the themes of the impending National Confab.
CONFERENCE THEMES
1.
Restructuring of Nigeria into
Regions and States
In 1963, the Midwest region was created
as the fourth region in Nigeria
by a plebiscite and National referendum after
prolonged agitation by our fore fathers, including Oba Akenzua II, Chief Dennis
Osadebey, Chief Jereton Mariere, Chief H. Omo Osagie, Chief
Festus Okotie- Eboh, among others. The creation of more states by the military
and the creation of six (6) geo-political Zones in 1996 eclipsed the Midwest region as a political entity to the detriment and
relegation of the people of the Region in the Nigerian body polity. What was
added to Midwest Region to form the South-South zone were actually the
minorities of the old Eastern Region – Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers provinces, which were also
agitating for independence from the Eastern Region under the Late Eyo Eta, and others,
just as the Middle Belt of the North
wanted their own independence.
As already canvassed by other groups
and elder statesmen, such as the Edo Forum and Late Chief Anthony Enahoro among others, we the Committee of Benin Elders propose 8 federating regions in a new politically
restructured Nigeria
with 4 regions in the North and 4 in the South. The 2 new regions in the
South are to be made up of the old Midwest Region and a new region made up of
Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Rivers and Bayelsa states. The 2 new regions
in the North should evolve from the splitting of the current North Central Zone
into the East and West Middle-Belt Regions. Minor boundary adjustments should
be resolved at the National Confab or subsequently.
For effective delivery of political
and democratic dividends to the masses, there should be 1 President, 8 Vice
Presidents or Premiers for the regions with organs of government, while the
regions may choose to create any number of States or Provinces.
2.
System of Government
Since the second republic, the
Presidential system has been in operation in Nigeria with concentration of power
at the centre with the resultant fratricidal struggle for power and election
rigging.
There is a huge expenditure on
governmental structures with little or nothing left for actual development. This system has been fraught with corruption,
immunity and impunity. We advocate a return to the parliamentary system with
its tenets to be practiced and mastered
by the new leaders. The system should
be part-time parliamentary with sitting
allowances paid to members. This is definitely cheaper and frees resources
for other developments. We advocate a
Federal house of Representatives (Parliament) and an advisory Traditional
council of Elders, where in addition to traditional rulers and chiefs, certain
notable distinguished elders with experience in administrative and
governmental issues, can be appointed to
advise government. Such an arrangement
should have constitutional provision and should extend to the regions and
states.
3.
Decentralization of Police and
military formations
A good policing system requires the
use of intelligent personnel from the locality who understand the workings, behavior,
conduct and terrain of the various localities.
The current police structure cannot be effective operationally with the charge
of policing the very large and complex Nigerian communities. We therefore advocate the decentralization of
the police force. We advocate a small effective federal police to take care of
the federal laws and inter-regional crimes across the country. We believe a 2- or
3- tier police force would be required.
As for military formations and locations,
while the citing is usually strategic, we believe and advocate that they can and
should be organized on the principle of equity
and fairness where no particular
region or regions enjoy undue advantage over other regions.
4.
Functions of the Major Tiers of Government.
The Federal/Central government shall be charged with
common services, which will mainly comprise the Armed Forces, Foreign affairs,
Currency and Central Banking, Aviation, Customs, Immigration among others.
The Regions shall be responsible for
Education, Health, Agriculture, Science and Technology, Power, Mining of liquid
and solid minerals, Industrial Policy, Transportation and Social
welfare/Security.
The concurrent list may comprise
Transport, Telecoms, Environment and Higher Education.
5.
Fiscal Federalism
The various ethnicities and nationalities own their
land and natural resources. For this and other reasons, the Committee
recommends that the regions exploit their resources and pay 25% royalties as
tax to the federal or central government while retaining 75% . The Regions on their own must reserve 25% of
their share to the areas in the regions which suffer from mineral extractive
activities.
It is advisable that new budgets at
all levels of governments emphasize the benefits of capital expenditures over recurrent
and this ought to forge the basis for speedy development of all parts of Nigeria. To
achieve full fiscal responsibility, it will be necessary to pass a Fiscal
Responsibility Act with provisions to protect the Nation’s resources from
further plunder.
6.
Independence of the
Judiciary
The regions should have their own judicial systems and
may establish their own highest, supreme or appellate courts. But ultimately,
the Nigerian Supreme Court will be the final arbiter. Hence cases heard in
various regional highest courts can be appealed to the Nigerian Supreme Court
but only on constitutional matters, The Committee further believes that the
courts must be truly independent, and this independence must be an entrenched
part of the new constitution.
7.
Strong Institutions
Nigerian institutions have been disadvantaged in
favour of strong individuals. The Committee feels that this is
counter-productive to true nation building. The projection of individuals at
the expense of strong institutions partly explains the failures in our society .
The Committee strongly recommends that all regulatory institutions be backed up
by provisions in the new constitution, especially in the appointment of the
Chairmen and members appointed to run these institutions. It is our view that
the members should appoint their own chairmen from among them having been
appointed.
8.
Civil Service and Federal Character
The Committee shares the view with other groups that
the Civil service should be restructured to emulate its glorious past before
1988 ( a year which marked the politicization of the civil service in Nigeria with
the implementation of the Dotun Phillips
report on Civil Service Reforms. ). Professional standards should be
reestablished for our civil service, where merit is stressed above all else.
Merit first before federal character. Processes must be in place to wipe out
all forms of corruption within the civil service. The new civil service should
be small, well equipped and made up of highly trained personnel.
9.
National, Regional and State Electoral Commissions
The Committee is of the view that these commissions
should draw their powers primarily from the Nigerian constitution. They must
enjoy complete independence in their operations; the chairman of the National
Commission shall be selected by their peers once the membership of the
commissions has been constituted by the Heads of governments.
An Election Offences Act should be
enshrined in the new Constitution to enable prosecution of election-related
offences.
10.
Immunity Clause in the Constitution
All immunity clauses in respect of criminal cases should
be expunged from the Nigerian Constitution, and individuals should be held to
the highest standards of governance. Being in office should not be an excuse to
avoid prosecution for crimes committed.
11.
Funding of pilgrimages
and political parties.
We advocate that Nigeria being a secular state,
there should be no government funding of pilgrimages and also there should be
no funding of political parties.
CONCLUSION
The Committee is unimpressed by the delegate spread where all
the ethnicities in Nigeria
are to be represented by 90 delegates and the governments (Federal and States)
will have 240 nominated delegates. This creates room for huge influence from
government at the expense of all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. The
Committee recommends, as the first order of business by the Conferees, a review
of conference guidelines to ensure full acceptance of their deliberations. We
believe that the outcomes of the Conference should be subjected to a national
referendum and these should then form parts of a new constitution.
Chief (Professor) Emmanuel U. Emovon, CON, FAS, JP (The Obayagbona of Benin Kingdom)
Chairman
Professor
Sam Guobadia
General Secretary
For
and On Behalf of Committee of Concerned Benin Elders
1. Hon. Justice Isaac O. Aluyi 2.
Hon. Justice Joseph Otabor Olubor,
OFR
3. Hon. Justice O. Uwaifo, CON 4. Mr. Daniel Aiyanyo Omoigui
5. Professor David Awanbor 6. General
Steve E. Asemota (Rtd)
7. Professor Eghosa Osagie 8. Professor Denise E. Agbonlahor
9. General Charles Osa Omoregie(Rtd), JP
10. Professor(Senator) Sunday O. Iyahen
11. General
Ikponmwen Donatus Idada (Rtd) 12.
Professor Augustine Orhue
13.
Princess Adesuwa C. Emovon, JP
