Conversation between a Federalist and a Unitarist (Part 1) - Tony Osborg

Federalist: Something is fundamentally wrong with the structure of our federalism. We need to restructure this system and entrench true federalism. This system is not working.

Unitarist: There is nothing wrong with the structure of our federalism. Our problem is bad leadership; bad leaders who have looted our future and have destroyed our federal system. We do not need to restructure the system, what we need is to elect good leaders into office and restructure the minds of Nigerians so they can be less bias, less corrupt and more patriotic.
Federalist: Well, I do not know what you mean by ‘restructure the minds of Nigerians’, by the way, how do we do that? How do we know who the good leaders are? What is the yardstick? How can we be less bias, less corrupt and more patriotic. I can give you a step by step approach on how we can restructure Nigeria, can you give me same for how we can restructure Nigerians?

Unitarist: It’s a social process. It takes time. By the end of PMB’s four or eight years, you will see what I mean by ‘restructure the minds of Nigerians’. Nigerians and their politicians will be less corrupt. Their orientation will change. Lets support this federal government and see how things will change.

Federalist: I do not know what you mean by ‘lets support this federal government’. The FG has the resources, manpower and authority to do all it needs to change Nigeria and Nigerians, what kind of support can we as ordinary Nigerians give her? Do you mean by Facebook praises and sycophancy? How exactly? Look my friend, as long as we continue to practice this central command unitary feeding bottle system of government, Nigeria will remain the same. Nothing will change. You cannot change Nigerians without first changing the Nigerian system in the same way you cannot fix the economy without first fixing the politics.

Unitarist: You are wrong, if we can fight corruption and diversify our economy, things will change.

Federalist: Our system of government is corrupt itself, how do you fight corruption without first fighting and changing the system that breeds corruption? How can the economy diversify when the states are handicapped by exclusive laws and the entire country is dependent on crude oil? True federalism will introduce regional competition which will in turn drive national development. As long as we continue to depend on crude oil allocation and maintain this existing unitary constitution, our economy will not diversify.

Unitarist: I do not know what you mean by ‘our system of government is corrupt itself’. PMB is fighting corruption without changing the system, it is working. There are no laws that stop the states from diversifying their economy and reducing their dependence on allocations. If Lagos can do it, other states can.

Federalist: Lagos was an 'already made' state handed over to the state government, built by colonial and federal efforts, it is wrong to compare it with other states. It had the infrastructure, productive population, the sea and a federalist structure. Lagos could have even done better if we were a federalist state. Imagine a state like Lagos without 24/7 power supply despite its resources. Why can’t the federal government allow Lagos generate and distribute its own electricity? They have the resources, all they ask for is authority. Is that too much to ask for? By the way, Let me explain what I mean by our system is corrupt. Do you know what it takes to win election in Nigeria, do you know what it takes to balance power between the arms of government all through one’s tenure, do you know how the federal government has maintained peace in the Niger Delta area for the past ten years, do you know that technically, it is corruption that has kept Nigeria together for this long and that Nigeria cannot survive under this evil system without corruption? Corruption is an inevitable by-product of the system that we practice so you cannot even fight corruption under the same system. Politicians innocently need prebendalism and nepotism to survive in Nigeria, these are all forms of corruption. Our unitary system is corrupt so how do you expect a unitarist politician not to be corrupt? As for the laws, yes, there are laws that restricts the states from diversifying their economy. For example, our tax system if skewed, the states and communities should have greater control of the tax earnings in their domain. This will enable them manage their education, security, and other areas that the FG has no business with.

Unitarist: So you want states and local communities to have more control than the federal government?

Federalist: That is exactly what true federalism is. Autonomy of the federating units. The states should federate the centre, not the reverse. That is the standard practice. In fact, states and local communities should be allowed to generate and distribute their own electricity. Take the bulk of the taxes in their domain. They should have their own police. They should have full control of the resources in their land. This is the standard practice and principle of federalism.

Unitarist: So you are saying true federalism means resource control? You want local communities and states alone to control their resources. So where is the unity and sense of brotherhood in the union? And besides, resource control will mean that some states will be richer and more powerful than some others. This is not good for the unity of the country. This is selfishness.

Federalist: Well, stratification is inevitable, are some states not richer than some others even in our present unitary system? All fingers are not equal. True federalism does not necessarily mean resource control, however, resource control is a feature of true federalism. You cannot give the states more responsibilities and not allow them take advantage of their natural comparative advantages. The fact that all states will still be contributing to the centre shows that there will still be sense of brotherhood under a restructured Nigeria. We cannot use ‘brotherhood’ to drag the entire family backward.

Unitarist: In other words, under a restructured Nigeria the Niger Delta crude oil will belong to the Niger Delta alone? That is unacceptable. The rest of the country will collapse. Even the federal government with its numerous fiscal responsibilities will collapse. This is a dangerous philosophy you are trying to sell. It will not fly.

Federalist: So you are saying the rest of Nigeria and the FG cannot survive without Niger Delta crude oil? So if the crude becomes obsolete tomorrow, the whole of Nigeria will collapse? Is that what you want? Are you saying that we should not restructure because of crude oil? What exactly is your point? We should not allow states generate their electricity and manage their security because of crude oil? And besides, crude oil (resource control) is only a feature of true federalism, should we reject all the features of true federalism because of crude oil?

Unitarist: Well…, like I said earlier, there is nothing wrong with the structure of Nigeria. What we need is good leadership and patriotism.

To be continued…

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Tony Osborg