On a very realistic note, with the current 1999 constitution (as amended), the unitary styled Federal government is not working and not likely to work. HOWEVER, since Nigerians Presidency had been on a rotational agreement amongst the parties, so why not an Igbo president, while solving Nigeria’s problems?
It is like what we call in local parlance- “Esusu” (communal funds contributions); whilst we are three contributors; two have collected our mutual funds; then when it comes to the turn of the third, the rule of the game suddenly changes.
Also an Igbo adage captures the scenario more succinctly: “if most of the market women come back from the market and your mother isn’t back, then to you it’s not yet the close of market business”.
I’m ALL for meritocracy and the best pair of hands occupying positions of leadership. Those with vast experience which cut across various development sectors; principally, managing vital resources and showing consistent results.
An Igbo leader is not what we’re advocating. What we are advocating include but are not limited to:
1) True Federalism
2) 2014 National Conference recommendations implementation
3) (2) includes devolution of power, security architecture
4) 2023: A Nigerian President of South East extraction (this might irk some of our overtly ambitious brethren from the South South). However, Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency had represented the South South Zone.
5) We need to de-emphasize the Central government and focus more attention on the other two tiers of government ie LGA and States.
If the resources that have been allocated to the States since 1999, have been judiciously channeled to human, infrastructure and productivity and development , States including Abia, will not be in the sorry state that they mostly are today.
In the first Republic when Nigeria practiced true Federalism, the Regions were much stronger, more relevant and accountable to the people.That structure informed why, when the NPC and NCNC formed the Federal government at independence, the leader of the accord, Sir Ahmadu Bello, instead of becoming the Prime Minister, preferred to remain as premier and rather sent Tafawa Balewa to the center as Prime Minister.
MI Okpara, the most purposeful leader of Ndigbo, by all indices, was able to impact the lives of Easterners, due first to his leadership attributes and secondly, the merits of a true Federalism.
6) We need leadership in Abia, and the other 35 states of the country, not only under a restructured Nigeria, but leaders who possess the three keys attributes of leadership.
In case anyone is in doubt, these key attributes all through human history, remain:
A) Character
B) Courage
C) Competence
In summary, restructuring and the review of the Nigerian construction are not mutually exclusive to a Nigerian President of South East extraction.
They can and should go parri passu.
*Sonny Iroche, Convener/National Coordinator of Abia Professionals wrote in from Lagos
