Gov Zulum, Nwodo Support For Restructuring, State Police

 

Prof.Babagana Zulum, the Governor of Borno State  and former President- General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo  on Friday said Nigeria must restructure and give it's component units sovereignty over their natural resources if it must remain an entity. 

They spoke at the 17th Gani Fawehinmi Annual lecture held at Ikeja Airport Hotel,  Lagos.  

Speaking on the theme "Constitutional History of Nigeria's Dysfunction: Any Pathway to Indivisibility and Common Progress?"

Governor Zulum noted that the constitution of Nigeria was amended to foist a unitary system on the country. 

He said the constitution gives too much power to the federal system and arrogated too much power to the President and Governors.

He asked: "why can't we have a constitution fashioned to meet the need of the people?  Why can't we have the people's constitution? "

Although he is not opposed to the establishment of state police, he pointed out that the centralisation of police is defective and the creation of state police maybe abuse by power-hungry politicians. 

"But you have to look at the ability of the people in power as such power over the police in a state can be abused.

He said if such power is not properly managed, it could polarize an already weak system”.

Answering questions later, Zulum said that as a governor of a state weakened by insecurity he would have jumped at the idea of state police but his decision is base on the weak governing system and the diehard Nigerian politician.

He also confirm that fighting Boko haram has been difficult because they (Boko Haram) are made up of both Nigerians and non-Nigerians.

‘Many of our children from Borno are in Boko Haram and we all have joined hands and fight this insecurity because you in Lagos are not safe. If your neighbor can not sleep you too can’t sleep

He ended his lecture by calling on Nigerians to close ranks to move the country forward

If we don’t remove religion, tribalism, and Nepotism then we can never get it right in Nigeria. We have some of the world finest individuals in Nigeria, the only thing is that we refuse to see the truth for reasons best known to us.    

Delivering In his lecture, Chief Nwodo said when the country is restructured, the federating units must be prepared to pay royalties or some form of taxation to the federal government to maintain federal responsibilities like external defence, foreign missions, customs, and Immigration. 

"Emphasis must return to agriculture and education. Education must emphasize on renascent digital orientation. Domestic security must remain in the hands of the units. The security of the Nigerian state must be respected. "

The Ohaneze Ndigbo chieftain said: "these irreducible minimum conditions are not negotiable. If it does not happen, we will have no alternative but to go our separate ways. "

He said the process to begin restructuring as a nation must be concluded before 2023 elections so as to avert a situation a section may boycott the elections and present the country with a constitutional force majeure.

Nwodo supported establishment of state police.

Citing examples across the world, he said local communities that embrace local policing system are more peaceful than the cities. 

He noted that state police exercise exclusive responsibilities and understand their jurisdiction very well.

Mohammed, son of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi urged up-coming lawyers to fight for truth and justice always and exhibit dignity in the legal profession.