Restructuring Nigeria into a True and Sustainable Federation

There has been persistent Calls by Nigerians for a True and Sustainable Federation for Nigeria, so that Nigeria can have peace and develop in real Unity, making real Economic Progress commensurate with Nigeria’s enormous endowment in talented Human Resources and enormous Natural Resources. In all these Calls for Nigeria’s Restructuring, nobody seems to be able to define what this Restructuring really means. One is also mindful that a good number of Nigerians don’t read and or reflect on serious issues before talking about them. Never mind the propensity or the general tendency of some of us, including our Leadership Elite in Politics and in Government, to take on a stand on Political issues of personal interest to them without first reflecting on the long- term greater interest of our Nation. The critical Issue of Nigeria’s Restructuring, which is a Make or Break of Nigeria is one of them. That is why I want to make Suggestions on how to restructure Nigeria into a True and Sustainable Federation, which Nigerians so much want, and to do it in Peace and Cordiality

Let me start first by explaining what the Restructuring of Nigeria into a True and Sustainable Federation, as I understand it from my Experience, really means. I am  basing my Understanding , on my own Experience, gathered by  my Education, at both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Research Levels in True and Sustainable Federation Nations , namely, (1) University of Glasgow, in Scotland, which is a Federating ethnic Nationality or Nation of United Kingdoms  of Great Britain of England, Scotland and Wales ethnic Nations, which came into Existence in 1707, after the Treaty of Union of these three Nations in 1706 , (2) Postgraduate Research in Physics at the School of Graduate Studies, in Ontario , Canada, which is a Federation of the English Speaking Americans, and the French Speaking Americans, which came into Existence following the American War of Independence.  Canada is a Red Indian Word for Union, (3) my Second postgraduate Research degree In Nuclear Physics in the University of Manchester in England, which is a Federating ethnic Nationality of UK of Great Britain of England, Scotland, and Wales, which came into being in 1707 following the Treaty of Union of the Nations of England, Scotland, and Wales, in 1706  (4) My Nuclear Physics  Reactor Research in Karlsruhe, of former West Germany, and Germany is a Federating ethnic Nationality or Nation of the 27 Nations, which make the Member States of the European Union, which came into being , following the 1939-1945 World War, (5) my Research in Technology Development Planning at the USSR Academy of Sciences, in Moscow.  USSR is a Federation of 14 ethnic Nationalities or Nations, of which the Russian Federation is one the 14 Federating Units, USSR came into Existence in 1919 following the introduction of Socialism / Communist Ideology in the Governance of Eastern Europe/ Euro Asia, in the Governance of Nations.  All these True Federations, which came into being in Peace and Cordiality Federations, have one thing in Common, namely, *Mutually Agreed Terms of Union* and each ethnic Nationality, whether with large or small Population, has only ONE Delegate Representative, during the Negotiation Conference for establishing the Union or the Federation. 

Please see more Details on the above Federations in my Book, titled *Scientific and Technological Innovations in Biafra: The Ogbunigwe Technology Fame, 1967-1970, Second Edition, 2017, Chapter VIII, Pages 168-186, titled, *The Collapse of Biafra, January 10, 1970. The Lessons*. One can also visit my Website Blog, titled, technogeria.ng (Technology in Defense of Nationhood) and read in particular, *Nigeria Groping in the Dark, for a True Federation from 1914-2018*    

The other major *Mutually Agreed Terms of Union* in each of the above Federations or Nation States, which will be of interest to Nigeria, are namely, (1) Each Federating Unit or Nation has the exclusive Control of its Land, its Natural Resources, its Economy, the Education of its Citizens, at all levels of Education, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary levels, (2) Each Federating Unit has exclusive control of its resources and develop according to its Resources and factor Endowments, with no help or whatever from the Coordinating Federal (Central)  Government or Union Government, (3) Each Federating Unit can establish Diplomatic Relation with any Foreign Government and  is totally Responsible for the development of its Economic Supporting Infrastructures of Roads, Railways, Airports, Seaports, and what have you. (4) Each Federating Unit shall contribute equally to the Sustenance of the Federal (Central) Administration or Union Government, (5) There is also an Exit Clause, for any Federating Unit or Nation wanting to opt out or exit from the Union Government or the Federation without let or hindrance  (6) Each Federating Unit is in Charge of its internal Security , including its own Police, (7) The Federal (Central) Administration or Union Administration is in Charge of Foreign Affairs , Military Defense of the Union or the Federation, in which each Federating Unit or Nation provides its required Military Personnel for the Defense of the Union or Federation Unit, but there is nothing like Federal Police, except the Police to secure the activities. of the Central Administration or the Union Government, to which each Federating Unit should contribute in equal Measure. That is why smaller Population Federating Units, form Federations, among themselves, to enable them to meet the Mutually Agreed Terms of Union, for example, the powerful Russian Federation of Caucasians (White Eastern Europe), now Russia. There is no crises on any Election fighting for which ethnic Nationality shall be the President or Prime Minister of the Union Government. That is what True and Sustainable Federation is all about.

Nigeria is, should be, or ought to be a True Federation, of the Imperial British Colonial forced Amalgamated Entities or ethnic Nationalities or different Nations, namely, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, NdiIgbo, Kanuri, Ibibio, Tiv, Edo, Nupe, Ijaw, Urhobo, Itschekiri, Igala, Idoma, Efik, Isoko, among many other ethnic Nationalities with smaller Populations, as detailed in the British Colonial Population Census of Nigeria of 1931. Please read the 1931 Nigeria’s Population Census and see how Nigeria came into being to appreciate why Nigeria Federation is having Political Problems.

Nigeria should therefore stop Groping in the Dark, but should go ahead without further delay to Restructure along the above stated lines , based on Mutually Agreed Terms of Union of the ethnic Nationalities or Nations, comprised in Nigeria into a True and Sustainable Federation, so that Nigeria can have Peace, real Unity and develop into a Great leading Economy in Africa, based on Nigeria’s enormous Resources Endowment (Human and Natural), and its large Geographical Space, so that Nigeria can move forward with the rest of the World of Nations in Unity and Economic Progress as one Nation, just like UK of Great Britain, Canada, the European Union, USA, and the Old USSR now Russia, respectively. The ethnic Nationalities or Nations, comprised in Nigeria, I wish to repeat, are distinct ethnic Nationalities or Nations, whether they have large or small Populations. In the Words of Kenule Sara Wiwo, an Ogoni Activist, in his Book titled, *The Darkling Plaine*, namely, *Nigeria is not Federation of geographical Regions, nor of Religious Faiths, nor Administrative Units but simply a Federation of the ethnic Nationalities or Nations, comprised in Nigeria*.  It is absurd that the 6 States of Yoruba Nation or the 5 States of NdiIgbo Nation are federating among themselves. These States are no more than Administrative Units of Yoruba Nation or NdIIgbo Nation.  See also the the ugly ADAKA Boro / Jomo Como / the recent destructive IPOB Secessionist Insurgencies since the End of the unfortunate Nigeria-Biafra Civil War of 1967-1970.   If any of these Secessionists / destructive Insurgents want to leave Nigeria’s Nation State or True Federation, they should be allowed to go and suffer the obvious terrible / harrowing Consequences of their irresponsibility. Nigeria cannot afford to continue to lose our People’s precious Lives on the Criminality of these dangerous Insurgents, often referred to as *Unseen Gun men or Criminals *, most often seen to be aided by self -serving Politicians seeking for unmerited Government Political Posts. 

It is hoped that after the on -coming 2023 Election, the emerging President of Nigeria Federation will set in motion immediately or convoke a National Conference for the transformation of Nigeria into a True and Sustainable Federations along the above stated *Terms of Union*, so that Nigeria can have Peace and develop in real Unity making real Economic Progress, as a Great Nation in Africa. Please also visit my Website Blog, titled, technogeria.ng (Technology in Defense of Nation hood) and read my Article, titled,*Nigeria’s Amalgamation Conundrum* (*History a Cue for a National Dialogue* and * Nigeria Without a National Dialogue* for more information.

Highest Regards, to All who buy into my well researched Suggestions for Nigeria’s Peace, Unity and Economic Progress as one indivisible Nation State.

Felix N.C. Oragwu, FSAN, MInstP (IOP) London

Former Senior Academic in Physics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN), from 1960s,
Head of Research and Development (R&D)  Planning Division / Coordinator of  Technological Services of the Industrial War Machine that operated in the defunct State of Biafra, 1967-1970.
Retired Senior Director in Charge of the Department of Science and Technology (S&T) Policy, Planning and Development of the Federal Government Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) 1979-1987
Former Technology Development Consultant to UNECA, UNDP and UNIDO