THE HYPOCRISY OF APC LEADERS ON TRUE FEDERALISM

The issue of True Federalism was once the major objective of the opposition party. And its proponents were from various parts of the country. Fiscal Federalism was therefore not even a regional ideology. It was a national concept championed by opposition men such as El Rufai, Tinubu, Atiku and even Muhammadu Buhari. In March 2011, the then presidential aspirant of the Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd) stormed Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, promising to practice true federalism if elected into office.

It is indeed confusing to see all these men who once believed in the power of true federalism become mute upon gaining control of the central government. One would believe that true federalism would become the impressum of their government. Alas; they have all gone mute. President Buhari who once preached about fiscal federalism in soliciting for South-West vote did not even have the courage to mention the word ‘fiscal-federalism’ in his inauguration speech. And the rest of leaders agreed with him. Is this not the height of national hypocrisy and deceit?
Just before the 2015 general elections, the All Progressive Congress (APC) published its party manifesto which it titled ‘Securing Nigeria’s Future – A Roadmap to a New Nigeria’. Two pertinent points are to note in this documents. The manifesto begins with a promise on true federalism by asserting that if the APC is voted into the central government, it would “Initiate action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit…”. It also went further to state that it would “Make sure people at a local level benefit from mining and mineral wealth by vesting all mineral rights in land to states.”

The APC is now in full control of the central government. By full control I mean, controlling both the executive and the legislative houses, both at the state and federal level. Yet, more than one year into the government, no attempt has been made to at least begin the debate for true federalism.
Again, I ask, is this not the height of national hypocrisy both by the APC and its leaders?

Nigeria cannot continue to practice this skewed unitary ‘feeding bottle’ federalism. The change that Nigeria desires is not a change of politicians nor political party, it is a structural change from a unitary system to a federal system. Until this is done, we shall continue to have the experience of ‘the more things change, the more they remain the same or get worse’.

True Federalism is the solution and the APC led Federal Government has a moral, legal and patriotic obligation to make this happen.

By Tony Osborg