By SundiataPOST, Abuja
Former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has said that the proposed National Conference should be used as a platform to evolve a workable federal structure for Nigeria.
Anyaoku said this in Lagos on Tuesday at the 3rd Goody Jidenma Public lecture, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
The lecture has as its theme: “The practice of True Federalism in Africa, the Nigerian Experience and the Way Forward“.
“The National Conference should offer Nigerians the golden opportunity to discuss an appropriate Federal structure for the country.
“The conference should be made to focus on the required system of government.
“There should be a return to the six federating units, with each unit developing at its own pace“ he said. The former Secretary General said that such units would ensure equitable sharing of proceeds from the nation’s resources.
Anyaoku noted that Nigeria had attained “faster development“ when it operated four regional structure of government.
He advised Nigerians against the syndrome of “it is our turn to produce the next president”, but to work collectively at achieving a united, peaceful and developed country.
The guest lecturer, Prof. Jonah Elaigwu, President, Institute of Governance and Social Research (IGSR), noted that Nigeria, like other African countries, was yet to practise true federalism. “No country has been able to meet with the characteristics of federalism so far.
“There is symmetrical federalism in Nigeria. Even America is not a true federalism, “ he said.
Elaigwu urged Nigerians to jointly work at removing their federation challenges and also create a federal system of government that would meet their collective needs.
