Anyaoku: Nigeria’s Present Governance Architecture Not Sustainable

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has reiterated his calls for restructuring the country, noting that the present system of governance, which only pays lip service to true federalism, is not sustainable.

The diplomatic giant made these remarks in Lagos on Monday at the public presentation of ‘Africa in Transition’, a book written by Ejeviome Eloho Otobo.

“As I have said on many other occasions, our country, given its current frustrating circumstances in virtually all sectors, will not achieve political stability if it continues to be under its present governance architecture, which pays only lip service to federalism,” Anyaoku said.

He pointed out that the route to political stability, for any country with the kind of diversity that Nigeria has, is through true federalism, a fact recognised and agreed by Nigeria’s founding fathers in the constitutions of 1960 and 1963.

According to him, “My call for restructuring is predicated on the belief that there is no part of Nigeria that does not benefit from belonging to a country of the size and endowment of Nigeria.

 “There is no part of the country that wants to break away. Restructuring, as some critics feel, will not lead to disintegration of the country. It will instead create a path to ensuring a united country, with an improved chance for progressive development.”

Anyaoku went on to stress that restructuring means having fewer and more viable units with each having its own constitution, “as against the present 36 most unviable federating units that we currently have.

 Also, it means leaving to the central government responsibilities for only such national assets and institutions as defence, monetary policy and currency, foreign affairs, immigration, customs, and such similar national institutions.”