Again, IBB Opposes Federal Character

Benin — Nigeria's former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has again called for the abolition of "federal character", describing it as no longer fashionable in the country's socio-economic and political system.

Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution states: "The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies."

But in an address at the conferment of a fellowship award on him by the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, at the weekend, he argued that the constitutional provision was no longer tenable.

The former military leader, whose administration took over Auchi Polytechnic from the state government and made it a federal institution in 1993, said the rationale behind the introduction of federal character had been defeated.

Babangida, whose address was delivered by Major-General Idada Ikponmwen (rtd), observed: "The concept of federal character as enshrined in our constitution in my humble view appears to be out of fashion. Reason: the rationale that motivated its introduction in the first place has been defeated.

"With growing sophistication in our educational pursuit and coupled with collegiate interactions at different levels of our lives, our attention should be geared towards sustaining the ideals of national integration in the spirit of one Nigeria and not encourage provisions that tend to undermine our nationality," he said.

He also advocated the allocation of more responsibilities and power to the state and local governments to enhance efficiency in the act of governance under a truly federal structure.

Babangida noted that with the rising cases of crime, the need for the introduction of state police was becoming more convincing.

He said: "With reports of kidnappings, abduction and armed robbery every day, the suggestion for the introduction of state police to complement the federal police is more and more compelling."

Babangida had last September canvassed a similar position at the third United Nations Peace Day, organised by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute of Peace and Sustainable Development Studies and Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group, in conjunction with the Niger State government.

At the event in Minna, the state capital, he said federalism as currently practised in Nigeria, had made the centre "too powerful" and asked for devolution of powers from the centre to the states and local governments.

He said he saw no wisdom in the federal government's continued running of secondary education, maintaining that such a responsibility should be delegated to the states and local governments.

He said the federal government should now concentrate on the issue of foreign policy formulation and economic management.

Babangida who described himself as a born again "as far as the issue of state and local police is concerned", said allowing the states to have their own police would "strenghten our efforts in the maintenance of law and order".

He also said at the Minna event that he saw no reason why a senatorial election would be held in a state only for the result to be announced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

SOURCE: This Day