USA Africa Dialogue Series - Yoruba nation and the Nigerian project

Yoruba nation and the Nigerian project

By Bisi Oladele 
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Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade
Last Thursday, Ibadan, the political capital of the Yoruba, received unusual visitors in a historic meeting. Bisi Oladele examines the agenda of the ethnic nationality towards re-inventing a new political, economic and cultural framework for Nigeria as a nation
 
Demands of Yoruba nation 
The General Assembly is pushing 15 proposals:
.A new Nigeria consisting of a federal government and six geo-political zones operating federal and regional constitutions respectively'
.A single legislative list which will be the Exclusive Legislative List consisting of only thirty items'
.The Westminster model of parliamentary government.'
.Value Added Tax, Sales Tax, Stamp Duties and other taxes - except Customs and Excise Duties, Petroleum Profit Tax and other levies associated with mineral resources- should be levied, collected and retained by the regions and an agreed percentage remitted to the central government on the basis of responsibilities. Petroleum Tax should be levied and collected by the Federal Government while 25 percent of oil revenue receipt by the Federal Government should be remitted to oil producing regions.'
.A regional and state police force structure'
.The establishment of a constitutional court with jurisdiction over inter-governmental cases and petition from elections to the National Assembly'
.That all public officers who currently enjoy absolute immunity be made amendable to court processes on charges bordering on commission of crimes'
.An informal role for traditional rulers in the political structure'
.The removal of the registration requirement for political parties. In addition, prior to elections, political parties must maintain self-financing status'
.The adoption of the open-secret ballot system for voting in elections'
.All election petitions must be expeditiously disposed of before the swearing-in of the declared winners'
.The abrogation of the Land Use Decree'
.Constitutional Affirmative Action provisions for the inclusion of women in public affairs, i.e as members of the Executive, National Assembly, Judiciary, civil service, etc'
.An awareness of the role and significance of civil society organisations in the polity as the core of national civic education at all levels.
 
The venue was historic. So was the meeting as well as the coalescence of the progressives, interestingly across party lines for the pan-Yoruba summit. The convener, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), carefully chose the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly, where the motion for Nigerian independence was moved in 1956 by the late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Enahoro. The venue was also the floor where the first Premier of Western Nigeria, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, got approval for his legendary policies that stood him out as a great leader of his time.  It was at the same venue Yoruba converged again last Thursday, 27 years after Awolowo's death, to voice their concern for what they described as the quasi-unitary constitution and declared their determination to pursue self-determination through regional government. 
The one-day summit was tagged: "Yoruba Assembly." True to its name, the meeting witnessed assemblage of governors, political leaders, traditional rulers, leaders of thought, distinguished professionals and representatives of Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states as well as Yorubas in the Diaspora.
Though it was dominated by Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leaders, some Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) leaders also graced the occasion and were given good voice, signalling that Yoruba are willing to work together to revive the glory of the Yoruba nation. Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Dr Dejo Raimi were among the two top PDP leaders that addressed the gathering.
 General expression of bitterness and accommodation of dissenting voices at the meeting conveyed the fact that the Yoruba are unanimous in condemning the present lopsided structure of federalism in Nigeria. They also unanimously rejected fiscal federalism as is currently practiced and gave the verdict that the current system of government in Nigeria is unitary in disguise. The Yoruba leaders also agreed that the Yoruba nation has almost fully lost her capacity to mobilise her resources to develop the region and the people as obtained before and shortly after independence.
In the Yoruba agenda, endorsed by stakeholders on Thursday, the nationality is seeking a self-governing, autonomous Yoruba region. It demands the right of Yoruba in the current South-west states to live under a regional government within the Nigerian federation with right to negotiate with other nationalities along the laid down principles of federalism, justice and equity.
It stated further that the region shall have its own constitution that shall not be inconsistent with the constitution of a true Nigerian federation and that the region shall run its internal affairs except in areas which all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria "at a properly constituted constitutional conference, agree should be under the aegis of the federal government. "The demands also include the freedom for all Yoruba, outside the current South-west, to join the current South-west by choice. It also calls for creation of state for the Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi states as they currently occupy 14 local governments.
The agenda also affirms the right of other nationalities to form their own regions and all nationalities, including foreigners to live and work in the Yoruba region.
Asides the above, the Yoruba are pushing for fiscal federalism, effective anti-corruption crusade and revival of the core Yoruba values, particularly the concept of 'Omoluabi.
To achieve these and many more, the Yoruba are pushing for regional integration among the current South-west states, setting up of a regional anti-corruption agency, promotion of the Yoruba language, promotion of merit system in the affairs of the country and creation of state police. In all, the Yoruba nation is asking for self determination through regional autonomy. In all, the general assembly is pushing 15 proposals. 
The debate and agreements
Aa all-encompassing and progressive as the proposals look, it is normal to expect criticism of parts of the whole agenda as exemplified by Dimeji Bankole's disagreement with creation of state police. The assembly was also unable to address the challenge of choosing and supporting a particular individual as the new leader of the Yoruba as in the days of Awolowo. But the fact that was obvious at the meeting was that Yoruba, in spite of political differences, are unanimous in rejecting the current operation of federalism in Nigeria. They also strongly believe that the current system inhibits the ability of the Yoruba to tap their capacity to grow beyond the current level and that there is an urgent need to renegotiate the co-existence of the various ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria.
With the new move by the ethnic nationality, the world is obviously waiting for the reaction of other nationalities that make up the country as well as that of the Federal Government of Nigeria which is holding power in trust for all Nigerians.
Considering similar voices coming from the South-east, South-south and the North, it may be safe to conclude that Nigeria is closer to a national conference where these issues will be discussed for continued co-existence.

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