SELFISH LAMENTATIONS Nigerians have not yet understood the practical meaning of nationalism and patriotism because we have refused to grow beyond provincial interests. The faulty foundation in which the nation was born is largely a result of our undoing which is predicted on greed and I-too-know syndrome. Our knowledge is centred on how much we can negotiate for our individual selves. This is why the National Conference has been a failure and will always be if we do not change our attitude. We feel that our being and social advantage is repertory of intelligence and as such we tend to undermine other people we perceive to be less endowed. We want everything for ourselves and do not want others to share. That is why the slightest provocation would prompt us to demand for a ward of our own, a local government, a state or complete secession. We do not believe in building a structure where everyone can coexist mutually. We forget that no matter the amount of division we create amongst ourselves in a bid to escape marginalization, the problems will continue to remain inherent through avoidance rather than confrontation. That is why I feel that the onward permutation of our constituencies and government as agitated by some people is not a reasonable solution to the nation’s acrimonies. State creation in Nigeria’s federal system is a conflicting phenomenon to the much talked about devolution of powers. In an archetype federal systems like the US, Canada, Australia, Germany and Switzerland models, existing states join the union or the federation, and are not created as it is the case here in Nigeria. They join the union when their sovereignty is threatened by another much powerful nation than theirs. Nigeria itself is a State and the reference to the federating units as a state in Nigeria is the reason why the citizenry is so confused about what ought to be. Everyone defines federalism from his own selfish and sectional perspective and turns deaf ears and blind eyes to the logic behind what federalism should be in Nigeria. We are so obsessed talking ethnicity and regionalism that we forget the cosmopolitan interest of our country. We forget that marginalization permeates every stratum of our society and that separation, as we usually have recourse to, hardly can solve our perceived injustice. However, this is not to suggest that state creation is not wholesome in a federal system such as Nigeria, but those certain assumptions which are antithetical to the basic principles of federalism and the mutual coexistence of a diverse people in our country need to be repelled. For example, the oil rich areas are always agitating for resource control on the ostensible premise that they are short changed in matters of revenue distribution and infrastructural development. In reality, the oil rich areas need special attention because of the health and environmental hazards associated with oil activities. This is why the 13% derivation became imperative, but just like Oliver, the people are asking for more because they feel that the allocation is insufficient for development, because the problems still linger. But the issue is multi-faceted because some people are of the opinion that the federal government does not remit the full sum to the people. This is the opinion of the middle class. Others say that the money is released but is misappropriated. This is what the poor people say. Some others say that the money is released but not enough. This is what the rich political class say and they sponsor activities that would give credence to their view. The truth is that the 13% derivation ought to trickle down to the oil communities through the States and local government who respectively are the primary and secondary recipients of the money. But the state actors in these areas rather prefer to create a make believe situation with the resources allocated to them for development so that the world would empathize with their ‘plight’. The problem of Nigeria is not exclusive to a section of the country, and the earlier we stop the selfish lamentations, the better for the country. What we need to emphasize as a people is a cross cutting entrenchment of transparency, accountability which would translate to good governance.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 10:44:08 +0000