A ROADMAP TO A BETTER OUTCOME FOR OUR PEOPLE
Much have been said about the problems besetting Nigeria – lack of security, incessant killings, kidnapping, poor economy, terrorism etc. Despite these arrays of problems, the politicians who are tasked with governance appears to have dismissed the problems as no big deal and just go about their daily activities. The general public who for a very long time have been the victim of the politicians’ misrule appears to have just shrugged their shoulders in despair hoping for a miracle. Those in relevant position appears to have lost their heads and no one is coming up with a plan or strategy to get us out of the mess we find ourselves.
We in Nigerians For Referendum however believe that heaven helps only those who help themselves and rather than sit back and wait for a miracle to happen, we can actually make things happen through a concerted effort and enjoining others to join us. This is the reason why we have come up with this roadmap which we strongly believe that if followed, would lead to a better outcome for our people.
The set of actions contained in this roadmap were once published some years ago when after surveying the situation in the country we realised that Nigeria was fast becoming a pariah state. I remember that in 2010 when Nigerians For Referendum was set up and an article detailing how Nigeria has come from being set up as a regional government and how successive governments and leaders over the years have taken us down the wrong path and to where we are today where the country is facing ultimate collapse with lives and properties unsafe for everyone. Our suggestion then looked unpalatable but time has proved us right that the only thing that can get us out of this mess is to abandon the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and revert us to the regional government that we got at independence albeit with adaptation having realised that not all the changes over the years are bad for our people.
1999 CONSTITUTION OF NIGERIA
It is clear the 1999 Nigeria Constitution has dealt a killer blow to the country. Nigeria as a country was already in demise but the introduction of the 1999 Constitution appears to have accelerated this. We in Nigerians For Referendum are very aware of this and raised awareness over 10 years ago and even made suggested solutions to address this but our suggestions were ignored.
There is no doubt that there have always been problems with Nigeria but a bad situation made worse started following the military coup of 1966 when the country abandoned true federalism and adopted a unitary system of government with its weakening of the regions vis-à-vis the federal government.
Today we have an inept federal government, a dysfunctional National Assembly and powerless state administrations. Terrorism and banditry have taken over with state armed elements overwhelmed and unable to cope. Terrorists and bandits are carrying out brazen and audacious attacks even on state armed elements. With all these attacks by the terrorists and bandits even on the Nigeria Military Academy, then one would wonder what chance has the poor masses have to protect themselves.
It is clear that Nigeria Government on every level have failed in its role as guarantor of lives and security. In the face of incessant killings, kidnappings, terrorism, insecurity, Nigerians and the Nigeria government need to admit failure and accept that we cannot continue this way. Things have to change now and not later.
We in Nigerians For Referendum had suggested that the regions need to rise to the occasion and take the lead to save Nigerians from impending catastrophe but our distress cry was ignored. Today, we are taking our suggestion further to actualisation as a way of saving our people from the impending catastrophe.
To actualise our suggestion, we are starting a petition across the states of the regions and in particular the southwest region asking the people to show their support through their support of our petition to bring back regional government to our regions This include electing a Premier and reconstituting our Regional Assembly. We are not asking for the election of new members of the Regional Assembly but to be elected but to reconstitute our elected senators and members of House of Representatives in order that as well as meeting at the National Assembly to also constitute themselves into a Regional Assembly and work together with the elected Premier to address the various issues affecting the regions. The current situations in Nigeria are so bad and deteriorating fast that we cannot way any longer. The current set up has failed us as a people and definitely as a country that a change now is imperative.
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO ACTUALISING REGIONALISM
We have used the South West Nigeria as our model region.
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We have set up a petition section on our website: www.nigeriansforreferendum.com
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The petition is grouped into individual states within the southwest Nigeria.
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We noted that there are currently 8 states within the original Western Nigeria namely: Delta State, Edo State, Ekiti State, Lagos state, Ogun state, Ondo state, Osun state and Oyo state.
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The number of petition necessary to carry a state is determined by securing a sizeable portion of the total number of votes cast/counted in the last governorship election of that state. For this purpose, we have agreed that at least a 25% support is considered substantial. We have used the figures obtained from the website of Independent Nigeria Electoral Commission (INEC). Therefore, for the individual states, 25% will be according to the total number of votes cast/counted in the last governorship election in that state.
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For the southwestern states, the following are agreed as the number required:
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Delta state = 1,154,188 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 288,547
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Edo state = 550,242 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 137,561
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Ekiti state = 351,865 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 87,967
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Lagos state = 977,476 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 244,369
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Ogun state = 680,947 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 170,237
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Ondo state = 591,193 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 147,799
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Osun state = 696,007 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 174,002
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Oyo state = 916,860 votes were cast/counted and 25% is 229,215
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Presenting the results of the petition to individual state governor within the region of South West Nigeria.
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Conducting a referendum within South West Nigeria to obtain the mandate of the electorate of southwest Nigeria. The question is simple: Should we form a regional government within southwest Nigeria?
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Provided we obtain a yes vote in the ensuing referendum, our region shall set up a committee to work with the governors to bring about the election of a West Nigeria Premier and the reconstitution of the Western Nigeria Regional Assembly.
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The governors will be retained as head of their respective state administration as before and will continue to work with the Premier to ensure the smooth running and governance of their region.
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As stated above, members of the Regional Assembly will be the existing senators and members of House of Representatives elected from the 8 states that made up the region of west Nigeria.
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While we anticipate some opposition but in the most, we expect support and cooperation from substantial western Nigerians.
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Please note that we are not openly supporting any political party and we expect support from every political party including the governors and the candidates in the coming election.
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However, if after securing evidence of support for the petition in a particular state but the governor of that state decides to oppose our noble cause, we shall campaign against the governor and the political party the governor belongs to ensuring that they fail in the coming election as such governor would have disregarded the view of his constituents.
Why are we not going through the federal government or the National Assembly? We have stated for a long time that we do not expect the government at the centre to support any action that will reduce its powers and we can also see that the federal government has been unable to tackle what is happening in the regions and in the country at large.
Furthermore, similar event in recent past is in our favour. During the Obasanjo government between 1999 - 2007, some state governments in the northern part of the country decided to introduce Sharia law into their states even though there was no provision for this in the Nigerian Constitution but the Nigeria constitution has since adapted to accommodate this. Regional government is not foreign to Nigeria. As a matter of fact, it was the system of government that was negotiated, agreed and practised at independence until military coup of 1966 when it was eventually abolished. We therefore have a better chance of achieving our aims and goals with the support of the people and politicians in the region.
WHY REFERENDUM AND WHY THIS QUESTION?
We need the mandate of the people within the region and in particular on an issue of constitutional importance as this. Once such a mandate to act on behalf of the people is obtained through a referendum, the federal authority will face serious difficulties in ignoring what we are doing or try to stop us as we can easily point to the source of our authority to act which is the mandate given us by the people of our region through the referendum. We should not forget that the current constitution was never negotiated but was imposed. This is an opportunity to give the people a say on the current constitution and no court in Nigeria can prevent the organisation of such a referendum.
The advantage of having a regional assembly is that when they meet at the regional assembly, the members will focus their concerns on the issues concerning their region and take decisions as the representatives of their region which would then be approved by the signature of the Premier.
Also, the regional premier will act as a single powerful voice of the people and contribute to coordinating regional policies that are designed specifically for the region. This will facilitate the immediate address of pressing regional issues that affect the lives of the people including security across the region.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR SAY BY SUPPORTING OUR PETITION USING THE LINK BELOW:
https://www.nigeriansforreferendum.com/petition
Folorunso G. Makinde
President
Nigeria For Referendum
nigeriansforreferendum@gmail.com
website: www.nigeriansforreferendum.com