PLEASE NOTE: This write-up was (first) written on 20th April, 2000 and was personally sent to National Newspapers in Nigeria then.
The military came into power in Nigeria in 1966 and by the time they left the political scene in 1999, everything in Nigeria – politically, economically and socially crumbled. The most far-reaching destruction was the structure – indeed, the foundation on which the Nigerian nation-state was built and left standing by the departing British Colonialists: The three regions which became four shortly after. The three regions at Nigeria’s independence in 1960 were: north, West andEast. The fourth one created by Nigerians themselves, was the Mid-West, which was carved-out of the old Western region. To say the least, more regions were in the offing—to be created the way Mid-West region was created before the military interlopers interrupted and indeed upset the political equation of the Nigerian nation-state. These other regions that could have been created later, could have been: Rivers/Ogoja region (from the East) and the Middle Belt region (from the North) – just to mention a few, because there were unceasing demands for them at that time. But the military disrupted all these and even demolished the ones that were even on ground, and thereafter erected their type of federalism – states which have no historical basis for existing for a very long time (because they were built on sandy environmental-foundation). And this scenario takes us back to square one when the military left power – the place the Nigerian nation-state was structurally before the military came into power. This is today’s reality and therefore, the clamour for restructuring back into regions.
Indeed, there have been strident demands for the restructuring of Nigeria into regions, and component parts that will stand Nigeria on a strong foundation to survive the vagaries of existence of a true nation in unity. Eminent and other well meaning Nigerians have posited their ideas as to the best structure that will stand Nigeria on a strong footing. Some have posited six regions and others have also posited eight regions though a Sovereign National Conference or a national Conference of ethnic Nationalities in Nigeria. This writer supports and calls for the restructuring of Nigeria into eight regions, and will hereby give his reasons for this support and call.
This writer indeed, supports (late) Chief Anthony Enahoro and his (defunct) Movement for National Reformation which in the past called for eight regions in Nigeria; instead of six regions as called by the Patriots led by (late) Chief Rotimi Williams, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and Afenefere, among other Nigerians (in the past). The eight regions should comprise four (4) in the South and four (4) in the North. Their names and environmental location should be as follows (using the present states as situated); In the North: North West (Hausa/Fulani majority speaking) comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna states. North East (Kanuri in-the-majority speaking) comprising Borno, Yobe, and Bauchi States. North East Central (old Adamawa Province and northern minority-in-majority speaking area) comprising Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe States. North Central (Middle Belt and northern minority-in-majority speaking areas) comprising Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Nassarawa and “Southern Kaduna or Apa”(to be carved-out from present Kaduna or Benue) States. In the South, we suggest the following: South West (majority Yoruba speaking) comprising Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Lagos States and “Ijebu” (to be carved-out from Ogun) States. Mid West (southern minority-in-majority speaking areas) comprising Edo, Delta and “Anioma and Edo North” (to be carved-out from Delta and Edo) States. South-South (southern minority-in-majority speaking areas) comprising Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers and “North Cross Rivers/Ogoja and Southern/Riverine Rivers” (to be carved-out from cross Rivers and Rivers) States. South East/East Central (whichever name is more acceptable and majority Igbo speaking) comprising Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu and “Aba and Adada (to be carved-out from Abia and Enugu) States.
The most glaring reason for this call for eight regions (4 in the North and 4 in the South) in Nigeria is that it will definitely help in reinforcing and stabilizing the foundation of Nigeria’s unity. Indeed, its balanced-equation will stand Nigeria on better stead for real development. If, for instance, the Hausa/Fulani are lumped-together in one region: North East, the Yoruba in South West, the Igbos in South East or East Central (as the name maybe), Southern Minorities of the West in Mid West, Southern Minorities of the East, in South-South; Northern Minorities in Middle Belt and North East Central, and the Kanuri controlling North East, Nigeria as a nation-state will have solved her re-occurring instability problem; especially as it concerns its structure, and therein and thereafter engendering the sense of belonging in all her citizens no matter where they come from.
A classical reasoning in this line for example, is that the Igbos, Yorubas and Hausa/Fulanis should have three regions out of the eight. Indeed, when these large ethnic groups are placed in their own regions: South East (or East Central), Yorubas (South West) and Hausa/Fulanis (North West), leaving the other five regions for the “so-called” minority ethnic groups, there will be structural and political stability in Nigeria. The fear of domination by the “so-called” majority ethnic groups on the so-called minorities, who will now have a greater number of regions, will surely become a thing of the past.
Homogeneity is another reason that should guide the re-structuring of Nigeria into eight regions. For instance, if all Igbo-speaking areas of Imo, Abia. Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Anioma (Igbo speaking parts of Delta and Edo), in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers are lumped-together in one region, the thesis of homogeneity should have been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Also, if all Yoruba speaking areas of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, in Kwara and Kogi States are in one region, there will be greater peace and development in Nigeria. In the same vain, if the Hausa/Fulani whose overwhelming geographical location is in the North West of Nigeria are made to be in their own region: North West, they can thenceforth practice their culture and religion (like Sharia) unhindered by any other region or regions, or by any other person or persons from other regions that wants to settle in that region. These other person or persons from other regions who wants to settle there for instance, should therefore be ready to adapt to their “puritan-religious” way of life. The “so-called” minorities of the core North, Middle Belt of the North Central, North East and North East Central, who are homogenous in their specified geographical locations, will thenceforth also, develop at their own pace with their God-given human and natural resources and thereafter pay royalty to the federal Government of Nigeria. The Southern minorities of the East and West of Nigeria are presently grouped-into one political zone—South-South. Putting all of them in one region therein will bring friction. Therefore, they are supposed to be grouped in two different regions (mid-West and South-South). This will also balance their development. This reasoning should also make the Northern minorities to be grouped into three regions: Middle Belt, North East Central and North East.
In conclusion, this writer hereby posits for eight (8) regions in a re-structured (Physical) Nigeria through a National Conference (National Dialogue or Sovereign National Conference—whichever name that is more acceptable). The eight regions will truly balance the structural foundation of Nigeria. It will also give a sense of belonging to all sections of Nigeria. Political stability and economic development, will surely, thereafter subsist. States and Local Governments as real-facts in the History of Nigeria should be allowed to still exist as the third and fourth levels of Government. Their existence brings development to the grassroots and if allowed to still exist will give Nigeria a unique-kind of Federalism (i.e. her own kind of Federal Structure). No region should have more than seven states within its confine and area of jurisdiction. The Federal Government should be led by a COLLEGIATE PRESIDENCY; the regions by PREMIERS; the States by GOVERNORS; and Local Governments by CHAIRMEN; and a fifth level which we call NCs led by LEADERS; should also be created (this has been fully explained in detail in my other papers). This is a contribution to the way forward for Nigeria! What is yours?
Written by Ejike Kingsley Osuji, (first written on 4th April, 2000 with my pen name then: EKO Osuji).
ekosuji@yahoo.com
