Wow. Ayo.Lively/ provocative stuff pops up on my iPad just when I am settling down for a bit of quiet Sunday afternoon shut-eye.Mmmm.I've been thinking/ writing about "Nigeria Federalism" for over 50 years. Few theoretical stones/ practical suggestions remain unturned. What useful to say?The amazing Richard is yet again doing his brilliant best to bring forward reason and change on tracks that may help towards the resolution we all in deep distress and great passion seek. He plays with great skill and sensibility through his wondrous and exhilarating instrumental repertoire. Who can fail to be charmed? Who can fail to have hopes re-burnished? It is good and important. And I thank him much.For those interested in further exploring Federal concepts / issues; and with an action-orientation in a Modern Nigeria context; do see the attached 2014 contribution of Prof Osaghae—another esteemed member of our List. Also attached fyi are a few written comments re Eghosa's paper/ Address I made at the time.And then Ayo, there is you.You do not mince words.Your end quote says it all:“While the emergent issues of the Nigerian brand of federalism are undeniable, advocacy for restructuring should not become a diversion from issues of people’s material existence”
That reality howl, the crack of that "Black Stick" on our 4X4 window as that day we departed the peaceful/ protected sanctuary of the Ibadan Secretariat compound for the seething reality of Nigeria folk/ world beyond those gates. That said it all. As did the comments of those eminent Ogas with whom we were enjoying this privileged form of transport. You haven't forgotten. Nor have I. …And which brings to mind one or two not entirely irrelevant additional quotes:
" And then there is the 98 per cent of ordinary Nigeria… folk
who live below the level of national, regional, even local visibility.
These …folk in their home locales, share with their better educated,
materially better-off kinsmen, the same qualities of person, the same
fundaments of democratic culture. They are available, ready and willing
for recruitment into lives of modern growth, development and personal
achievement in this globalising world.
But there is a problem. The vast abyss between top people and the rest
has long been largely ignored. And governors (the term used in this paper
to refer to those who have secured elected or other high office) show little
inclination to take corrective actions.
Nigeria’s “political princes” fight with feral intensity to gain and retain
their positions. These battles are basically inter-personal.11 But where public/
popular resistance rises to pose a perceived challenge, they respond no
less fiercely.12 Wealth beyond dreams, but in fact within reach is of course
the reason for this ferocious political combat.13 Office provides the avenue
to obscene levels of personal wealth—these funds largely deriving from oil
revenue share-outs to Central/ Federal and State governments. Public treasuries
are repeatedly looted by governors and their friends.14
Nor is it greatly different in the West. Dominant folk internationally
have engaged in huge orgies of greed. They have bankrupted economies.15
And now the ordinary citizens of all these countries must bear the burden
of repayment. Public anger, resentment and unrest escalate as cuts in services
and stiff schedules of repayment start to bite. Nor has any effective
regulatory system been put in place to correct weaknesses and/ or prevent
repeats."
The answer? Cruel/ savage/ ignorant behaviour of ruling folk in Nigeria/ worldwide persists.You, Ayo, do not let us evade the point of needed action.You put aside your wondrous rhetorical gifts,And speak directly.What you have said is the key and the focus.We all would do well to keep it close at heart/ in mind.It is where the breakthrough must and will come.
" …As for Africa? The Euro/ Developed world used its massive material and
technological capacity, its overwhelming power thus produced, to access
Africa lands, to plunder and to divide. Africa folk were confronted with an
alien mind-set, and of course no evolved technology and associated materiel
through which successfully to resist. The Euro-invaders, though in
most instances operating at full throttle for less than a century before being
driven out, left a heavy imprint: a heritage of deep social and cultural dysfunction;
profound damage that has ensured parallel dysfunction in the
governance and economies of all new Africa states. Indeed, with many Euro
and other states now active in new colonial acquisitive ventures, Africa still
has a distance to travel before it may once again secure effective guardianship
and control over its own lands and resources.
In the past fifty years, however, Africa has been working hard, and moving
fast—though from modern media coverage one could be forgiven for
believing the reverse. Natural gifts and talents in growing numbers have
been realized and actuated. In all areas of business and commerce, in the
many branches of the academy, in science and technology; Africa folk have
joined specialists from the Western and developed world at the very pinnacle
of brilliance, invention and accomplishment. It is a fantastic record of
achievement. And it continues at ever growing pace.
Thus the “Engine Room” of Africa is only just starting to produce serious
thrust. It is a thrust rooted in great reservoirs of energy and ravenous
hunger for all things. And while “primitive accumulation” by most Africa
oligarchs is the current norm—a practice that has turned many of its most
brilliant and productive citizens into exiles; and that also is holding back
a massive range of vitally important development throughout the continent—
release and actuation will come.
There is a limit to the time that
growing multitudes of Africa folk of high talent, energy and intelligence
can be ignored/ excluded/ suppressed. The huge and ever-growing force, the
thrust from below grows daily. Eventually it will become too much. It will
breach the “oligarchical dam.” There will be a huge release. Folk from distant
diasporic lands, and from all levels in Africa society, will flood forward.
Africa will come into its own."
But how long, oh Great Creator, how long?Baba m
Date: Sunday, 26 June 2016 15:20
To: Prof Ayo OLUKOTUN <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>, Prof Toyin FALOLA <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>, USA-AFRICA dialogue <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com>, "Dr O.A. DOSUMU" <toksx@yahoo.com>, Attahiru Jega <attahirujega@yahoo.com>, Tade Aina <tadeakinaina@yahoo.com>, Prof Taiwo OWOEYE <sistertees@hotmail.com>, TaleOmole <taleomole@yahoo.com>, Jibrin Ibrahim <jibo72@gmail.com>, Prof Jide Owoeye <babsowoeye@gmail.com>, Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com>, "twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk" <twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk>, Oluwayomi D ATTE <david_atte@yahoo.com>, Attehsun <attehsun@yahoo.com>, Dr Banji OYEYINKA <boyeyinka@hotmail.com>, bankole omotoso <ajibabi@outlook.com>, Obadiah Mailafia <obmailafia@gmail.com>, Ladipo ADAMOLEKUN <dipo7k@yahoo.com>, Dr Olajumoke YACOB-HALISO <jumoyin@yahoo.co.uk>, olatoye_ojo <olatoye_ojo@yahoo.com>, Kayode Soremekun <paddykay2002@yahoo.com>, Ayandiji Aina <dijiaina@icloud.com>, Ayobami Salami <ayobasalami@yahoo.com>, "fademolaadeoye@gmail.com" <fademolaadeoye@gmail.com>, Femi FALANA <falanalagos@yahoo.com>, Femi Osofisan <okinbalaunko@yahoo.com>, Francis Egbokhare <foegbokhare@yahoo.com>, Gabriel Ogunmola <gbogunmola@yahoo.com>, Glory Ukwenga <gloryukwenga@gmail.com>, "Haastrup, Deji Olaolu" <deji@chevron.com>, Hafsat Abiola <hafsatabiola@hotmail.com>, Innocent Chukwuma <I.Chukwuma@fordfoundation.org>, "isumona@yahoo.com" <isumona@yahoo.com>, SEGUN GBADEGESIN <gbadeg2002@yahoo.com>, Segun Awonusi <segunawo@yahoo.com>, Michael VICKERS <mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>, Bunmi Makinwa <bunmimakinwa@hotmail.com>, bukky dada <bukkydada@hotmail.com>, Dr Florence Falola <bisifalola@gmail.com>, "jgsanda@gmail.com" <jgsanda@gmail.com>, Jide Oluwajuyitan <joluwajuyitan@gmail.com>, olukotun bob-kunle <bobkunle@yahoo.com>, Daniel Bach <d.bach@sciencespobordeaux.fr>, "dapogundipe@yahoo.co.uk" <dapogundipe@yahoo.co.uk>, Dele Layiwola <delelayiwola@yahoo.com>, Dewale Yagboyaju <aswaj2003@yahoo.com>, Nduka Otiono <Nduka.Otiono@carleton.ca>, Niyi Osundare <oosunda1@uno.edu>, Noel Ihebuzor <noel.ihebuzor@gmail.com>, Akinlawon Mabogunje <mabogunje1931@yahoo.com>, akin osuntokun <akinosuntokun@yahoo.com>, Sola Akinrinade <solakin@msn.com>, "S.O. UWAIFO" <so_uwaifo@yahoo.co.uk>, Shehu Dikko <shehuspen@gmail.com>, "shirleygreta@yahoo.com" <shirleygreta@yahoo.com>, "Ugbabe, Padma" <P.Ugbabe@fordfoundation.org>, "bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk" <bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk>, Pa Uoma <pauoma@gmail.com>, pai Obanya <paiobanya@gmail.com>, Prof Pius ADESANMI <piusadesanmi@gmail.com>, Prof Bayo ADEKANYE <profbayo_adekanye@yahoo.com>, Prof Dipo Kolawole <profkolawole@yahoo.com>, "Prof Eghosa E. OSAGHAE" <osaghaeeghosa@yahoo.co.uk>, Alaba OGUNSANWO <alabaogunsanwo@gmail.com>, Alex Gboyega <alexgboyega@yahoo.com>, alade rotimi-john <rotimijohnandcompany@gmail.com>, Prof Alli <alliwo@yahoo.co.uk>, Hassan Saliu <hassansaliu2003@gmail.com>, Wale Adebanwi <waleadebanwi@gmail.com>, William Fawole <fawolew@yahoo.com>, Mamora <senatormamora@yahoo.com>, Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome <mojubaolu@gmail.com>, Omatsola Edema <charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>, Moshood Omotosho <mashomotosho@yahoo.com>, "Dr.Remi SONAIYA" <remisonaiya@yahoo.com>, "rsuberu@bennington.edu" <rsuberu@bennington.edu>, Ronke Ako-nai <riakonai@yahoo.com>, "fadesola@oauife.edu.ng" <fadesola@oauife.edu.ng>, Lai Olurode <olurode@yahoo.com>, Adebayo <adebayow@hotmail.com>, Adebayo Olukoshi <olukoshi@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: True Federalism (Corrected).docx
Dear Ayo:
Thanks for sharing this passionate and reasoned set of arguments. Political and economic restructuring, however, can be pursued in interactive and complementary ways.
"True" federalism suggests the risk posed by such notions when complex institutional and other dynamics are confronted. This is one of the consequences of the Brexit vote in Britain, fought over concepts like "true" independence and "true" sovereignty, etc., in a globalizing (and nationalizing) world.
With regard to Chapter II of the federal constitution on "fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy", permit me to share two observations. In an informal dinner in Abuja two years ago with Jibrin Ibrahim, Kole Shettima, and a few members of the ongoing national conference, I inquired what were surprising outcomes of the deliberations. The first, they replied, was the lack of support for federal restructuring based on the six "geopolitical" zones. The second was strong support for making Chapter II justiciable.
It turns out that Professor Bolaji Akinyemi had invited me, in the National Conference on the Draft Constitution in Zaria in March 1977, to deliver a paper on this path-breaking provision in the constitution for the Second Republic (and which is substantially the 1999 constitution). These comments suggest the profound, persistent, and unresolved issues of Nigerian nationhood.
As Britain, Spain, the European Union, the U.S. and other countries confront disequilibria in their political and socio-economic systems, resolving these issues in Nigeria has wide implications. The time to advance this multifaceted restructuring is now.
Regards,
Richard
Richard Joseph
John Evans Professor of International History and Politics
Northwestern University
http://africaplus.wordpress.com/
Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2016 5:47 AM
To: Ayo Olukotun; Toyin Falola; Usa dialogue; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu; Richard A Joseph; Attahiru Jega; Tade Aina; Taiwo Owoeye; TaleOmole; Jibrin Ibrahim; Jide Owoeye; Tunji Olaopa; twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk; david atte; Attehsun; Banji Oyeyinka; bankole omotoso; Obadiah Mailafia; Oladipupo Adamolekun; Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso; olatoye_ojo; Kayode Soremekun; Ayandiji Aina; Ayobami Salami; fademolaadeoye@gmail.com; Femi Falana; Femi Osofisan; Francis Egbokhare; Gabriel Ogunmola; Glory Ukwenga; Haastrup, Deji Olaolu; Hafsat Abiola; Innocent Chukwuma; isumona@yahoo.com; SEGUN GBADEGESIN; segunawo; Michael Vickers; Bunmi Makinwa; bukky dada; Bisi Falola; jgsanda@gmail.com; Jide Oluwajuyitan; olukotun bob-kunle; Daniel Bach; dapogundipe@yahoo.co.uk; Dele Layiwola; Dewale Yagboyaju; Nduka Otiono; Niyi Osundare; Noel Ihebuzor; Akinlawon Mabogunje; akin osuntokun; Sola Akinrinade; Solomon Uwaifo; Shehu Dikko; shirleygreta@yahoo.com; Ugbabe, Padma; bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk; Pa Uoma; pai Obanya; Pius Adesanmi; Prof Bayo Adekanye; Prof Dipo Kolawole; Osaghae Eghosa; Alaba Ogunsanwo; Alex Gboyega; alade rotimi-john; Prof Alli; Hassan Saliu; Wale Adebanwi; William Fawole; Mamora; Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome; Omatsola Edema; Moshood Omotosho; Remi Sonaiya; rsuberu@bennington.edu; Ronke Ako-nai; fadesola@oauife.edu.ng; Lai Olurode; Adebayo; Adebayo Olukoshi
Subject: True Federalism (Corrected).docx
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