Time to seriously consider true federalism?

The current state of the Nigerian nation is a matter for grave concern, and not just in the realm of the economy – although that constitutes a significant portion of our balance of woes. The past three months or so have been downright harrowing for most of the population: we have witnessed the price of fuel skyrocket from N86.50 to between N150 and N200, even at the fuel stations, despite efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to crack down on dealers who sell the commodity above the officially-stipulated price. The ripple effect on the prices of everything, from foodstuff to a haircut or having a tyre fixed by a vulcaniser, is evident. The situation was further compounded due to the prohibition by the supervising authorities of selling fuel into jerry cans. How were all our generators to be run then, given that electricity was at the same time not being provided to the populace? No fuel, no electricity, no water. Life is hard in Nigeria.
As if those challenges were not enough to contend with, the country has also come under the increased onslaught of ‘Fulani herdsmen’ who have unleashed such terror upon villages and communities, from Agatu of Benue State to Ukpabi Nimbo in Enugu State, that it is now being wondered whether these might in reality not be just another wing of the dreadful and dreaded Boko Haram terrorists. Given the setback they have suffered at the hands of a now better equipped Nigerian army, could it be that the Boko Haram insurgents have merely swapped their military fatigues for Fulani herdsmen’s clothing and gathered around themselves some herds of cattle to complete the outfit? They already possess Kalashnikovs and other assault rifles anyway, so that poses no problem regarding how to source their arms. The issue to be unraveled is: are these truly herdsmen? But whatever turns out to be the case, there is no doubt that the matter of Fulani herdsmen ravaging farmlands and destroying communities’ livelihoods has been a longstanding one.
Several proposals have been making the rounds as to what steps to take to bring this nagging reality to an end, but even these have only served to exacerbate the antagonism between the herdsmen and those communities that have been victims of their activities. Some have proposed that grazing corridors or zones be created all over the country; others have argued for a change to more modern animal husbandry methods which would involve raising cattle in ranches. A suggestion, which did not receive serious consideration, was that of importing grass to feed the cattle! Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State could hardly dissimulate his anger when he pronounced: “This is time to call a spade a spade. Those clamouring for the creation of grazing zones across the country should have a rethink. It is against the Land Use Act: it is against the law of natural justice to seize people’s land to cater for someone’s cattle” (cited in The Punch, April 28, 2016, page 48). This writer has also publicly wondered whether individual states could not promulgate laws prohibiting the grazing of livestock within their borders, insisting instead that animals be raised in enclosures.
This is where the issue of true federalism comes in. It is becoming increasingly evident that there are serious, fundamental differences among the populations living in different parts of the country. Seeking to resolve some of those issues was assumed to have been the objective of the National Conference which took place under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Unfortunately, like most projects in Nigeria, it has turned to have been embarked upon without sincerity, but in the interest of some undeclared political calculations. Nothing has come of that costly exercise so far.
A truly federal Nigeria could resolve not a few of the serious co-existential problems that have confronted us as a nation, in that it would devolve much of the overarching power and authority of the central (federal) government to the states. If that step would be taken, however, a re-organisation of the political structure of the country would become necessary, for a federation of 36 states would be unwieldy and hardly viable economically. Calls have gone out in recent times for a conversion of the six geographical regions of the country, which Nigerian citizens seem to have accepted, into six autonomous federating units. Each federal state or region would then be free to determine its own priorities and pursue them without negatively impacting upon the goals and aspirations of other regions. Thus, for example, while the grazing of livestock would be permissible across one region, it may be prohibited in another, and the details of any commercial activity involving livestock between the two regions would have to be mutually agreed upon.
There are serious issues confronting the nation at this time which require courage to address. We cannot afford to play the ostrich, hoping that the problems would disappear. Various global development indices are showing that Nigeria is slipping again. Only a few years ago, we were among the three fastest growing economies in Africa; now we are not even on the list of the first 10. Our country is constantly being torn apart by disharmonious aspirations – at least, on the part of the regional leaders. We might end up doing ourselves a world of good if we gave the regions greater self-determination.