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| A map showing the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria |
Moves by the National Assembly to further amend the 1999 Constitution has again brought to the fore the sharp division and mutual distrust between the North and South, as both have taken opposing views on the entrenchment of the six geopolitical zones in the constitution.
The North said it represented 60 per cent of the country’s population, and therefore, would resist efforts to equate it with the South, which it claimed represented just 40 per cent of Nigeria.
It added that any attempt to deny the majority its position on the matter would lead to anarchy.
The Convener of Concerned Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Juniad Mohammed, said these in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents on Friday.
The Northern Governors Forum had similarly opposed the inclusion of geopolitical zones in the constitution, just as Arewa Consultative Forum scoffed at the suggestion.
Mohammed said, “When some people insist that 60 per cent of the population must be made equal with the remaining 40 per cent, I don’t understand it. In the last census in 2006, the North-West was 37 million, while Ohaneze’s South-East was 15 million. How do you equate the two of them?
“Democracy is a game of numbers. Any attempt to deny the majority would result in anarchy. From the records of the census that have been conducted in this country, it is obvious that the North constitutes at least 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
“They’ve been trying to do this since and now they want do it through the back door by putting it into the constitution. I say it will never happen. Geopolitical zones will never be accepted in the constitution no matter what it takes. North and South are not equal and we can never be equal,” he said.
The
President-General, Chief Ralph Uwechue, however, said the current concept of
six geopolitical zones was ethnically based, with three zones accorded to the
larger ethnic groups while the three other zones were derived from smaller
ethnic units.
President-General, Chief Ralph Uwechue, however, said the current concept of
six geopolitical zones was ethnically based, with three zones accorded to the
larger ethnic groups while the three other zones were derived from smaller
ethnic units.
He explained that this made for political balance and stability.
He said, “The simple lesson from this structural arrangement is
that the ethnic units are recognised and accepted as the veritable building
blocks in the ongoing construction work and nation-building process in Nigeria.
that the ethnic units are recognised and accepted as the veritable building
blocks in the ongoing construction work and nation-building process in Nigeria.
“We are now saying that the six geopolitical zones of today
should inherit the same powers and responsibility the three zones had at that
time.
should inherit the same powers and responsibility the three zones had at that
time.
“What it means is that these six zones will become the
federating units of Nigeria and any other arrangement each region wants to make
will be entirely left for the zones.”
federating units of Nigeria and any other arrangement each region wants to make
will be entirely left for the zones.”
“This is the best thing that can happen to this country right
now.
now.
“Our position is that we should have six regions coinciding with
the current six geopolitical zones and having the same powers and responsibility
as were given to the regions at independence.
the current six geopolitical zones and having the same powers and responsibility
as were given to the regions at independence.
“The difference is that instead of three regions at
independence, we now have six regions.”
independence, we now have six regions.”
According to the Ohaneze chairman, the northern governor’s
refusal to allow the inclusion of the zones in the constitution was a way of
perpetuating the autocratic military distortion of the master plan, (political
arrangement) which produced Nigeria in 1960.
refusal to allow the inclusion of the zones in the constitution was a way of
perpetuating the autocratic military distortion of the master plan, (political
arrangement) which produced Nigeria in 1960.
He further said, “The terms they are kicking against are the
terms of having Nigeria as a country, and these terms were arrived at after
negotiations between political parties at the time.”
terms of having Nigeria as a country, and these terms were arrived at after
negotiations between political parties at the time.”
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Renewal
Movement, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the geopolitical zones should be maintained,
while power is decentralised.
Movement, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the geopolitical zones should be maintained,
while power is decentralised.
He said, “In my opinion, the zones should stay. They should be
strengthened to function as federating units in the new structure for Nigeria.
They should be autonomous and manage the resources within their territories.”
strengthened to function as federating units in the new structure for Nigeria.
They should be autonomous and manage the resources within their territories.”
Groups in the South-South angrily told SUNDAY
PUNCH in separate
interviews that the North was in the “habit of discouraging moves aimed at
giving everyone in the country a sense of belonging.”
PUNCH in separate
interviews that the North was in the “habit of discouraging moves aimed at
giving everyone in the country a sense of belonging.”
Such was the position of the Secretary of the Bayelsa State
Elders’ Forum, Chief Thompson Okorotie.
Elders’ Forum, Chief Thompson Okorotie.
He said, “If they are truly interested in the unity and
indivisibility of this country, they would not be opposing any move to give a
sense of belonging to all the sections of this country.
indivisibility of this country, they would not be opposing any move to give a
sense of belonging to all the sections of this country.
Okorotie, a former political adviser in the state the governor,
therefore described the North’s stance as divisive,
therefore described the North’s stance as divisive,
“When they hold this kind of position, one begins to wonder what
their agenda for Nigeria is,” he added.
their agenda for Nigeria is,” he added.
He noted that the reason for the creation of the existing
geopolitical zones was to promote unity by ensuring that all sections and
ethnic groups were represented in all issues affecting the country.
geopolitical zones was to promote unity by ensuring that all sections and
ethnic groups were represented in all issues affecting the country.
On its part, the Ijaw National Congress said the North was
promoting “disunity and selfishness” by rejecting the inclusion of geopolitical
zones.
promoting “disunity and selfishness” by rejecting the inclusion of geopolitical
zones.
Its National President, Mr. Joshua Benameisigha, said the group
even wanted 10 zones for the country.
even wanted 10 zones for the country.
“We are in support of 10 zones. We want to be in our own zone
because currently we are Balkanized all over the country.
because currently we are Balkanized all over the country.
“The northern groups are living in the past because to have a
fiscal federalism, all the zones must be included in the constitution.”
fiscal federalism, all the zones must be included in the constitution.”
Also, a Niger Delta activist, Chief Nengi James, said for all
sections of the country to become one entity, the geopolitical zones must be
recognised in the constitution.
sections of the country to become one entity, the geopolitical zones must be
recognised in the constitution.
He said, “This time around, we are ready for them; if they don’t
want it, let them go and form a country of their own. We have suffered enough
in their hands but we are not ready to suffer any more.”
want it, let them go and form a country of their own. We have suffered enough
in their hands but we are not ready to suffer any more.”
Meanwhile, in a 14-page memorandum submitted to the National
Assembly which was made available toSUNDAY
PUNCH, Ohanaeze stated that Nigeria made more progress in national
development in the early years of its independence when it practiced true
federalism of four regions with more extensive powers devolved from the center
to the regions.
Assembly which was made available toSUNDAY
PUNCH, Ohanaeze stated that Nigeria made more progress in national
development in the early years of its independence when it practiced true
federalism of four regions with more extensive powers devolved from the center
to the regions.
The memo read, “To return to true federalism, we need a major
restructuring of our current architecture of governance. We would need six
federating units, instead of our present 36 units, which not only sustain an
over-dominant center, but also compel the country to spend not less than 74% of
its revenue on the cost of administration.
restructuring of our current architecture of governance. We would need six
federating units, instead of our present 36 units, which not only sustain an
over-dominant center, but also compel the country to spend not less than 74% of
its revenue on the cost of administration.
“If the existing 36 states must be retained in some form, they
could be made cost-effective development zones with minimal administrative
structures within the six federating units.”
could be made cost-effective development zones with minimal administrative
structures within the six federating units.”
Uwechue, Eze Ilomuanya, Prof. Joe Irukwu, Justice Ezebuilo
Ozobu, Chief Nduka Eya, and Chief Gari-Enwo Igariwey signed the document.
Ozobu, Chief Nduka Eya, and Chief Gari-Enwo Igariwey signed the document.
However, a Second Republic Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji
Balarabe Musa, said it was unnecessary to include geopolitical zones in the
constitution.
Balarabe Musa, said it was unnecessary to include geopolitical zones in the
constitution.
Rather, he opted for the old regional system, which existed in
the First Republic.
the First Republic.
He said, There are more important issues in the country at this
moment. It would be a waste of time and resources to drag the issues, because
at the end of the day it will not work out.”
moment. It would be a waste of time and resources to drag the issues, because
at the end of the day it will not work out.”
The six zonal structure was adopted in 1995 constitutional
conference, following former vice-president, Alex Ekwueme’s proposal.
conference, following former vice-president, Alex Ekwueme’s proposal.
Source: Punch
