To Save Nigeria: Let's talk

                    By Bayo Ogunmupe

    The pamphlet, To Save Nigeria: Let's talk are proposals as amendments to the Constitution by the former minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh. It was originally presented to President Ebele Jonathan's National Constitutional Conference of 2014. This second edition was published in 2019 in anticipation of the 9th National Assembly's amendments to the Constitution. In paperback, it has seven parts, two prefaces and an epilogue. The volume has 36 pages.

    In his preface to the second edition, Prince Momoh reiterated the need to revisit the review of the Nigerian Constitution because of the high cost of governance we're experiencing with the present Constitution. The need to write this small book arose because of the dust being raised by the people on the high cost of Nigeria's type of democracy; for in Nigeria money to sustain growth is being squandered on the paraphernalia of democracy.

    The necessity of addressing the high cost of governance through decongesting the political space. These are full time membership of the legislative arm, constituency project maintenance and  legislative aides and others are all the more imperative if we are to enjoy the dividends of democracy in due time. The outcry for reform started in 2002, according to Momoh, it culminated in the 2005 Constitution Reform Conference of President Olusegun Obasanjo. This issue resurfaced in 2014 at the Dialogue packaged by President Jonathan, where we thought something concrete would emerge but which never went beyond the book shelf.

    Up till now, the elite aren't listening, even though they're in charge of the nation. The elite has refused to call the shots, they are at home in sharing the national cake rather than taking part in the baking. Sadly, the political will to create an egalitarian regime rather than the present  lucrative business version of democracy, continues to elude us. According to the author, our Constitution is the roadmap to glory. We don't need a referendum, we can change it within 48 hours if the elite wish to exercise their will for change.

      Now that we're agreed to restructure the country because we are neither developing nor making progress, we have to talk. All of us stakeholders of the Nigerian enterprise must talk and decide our preferences through consensus. Through this medium, Prince Momoh suggests we restructure Nigeria so that we can have a truly federal arrangement where the federating units are viable and cost effective. What is proposed as restructuring is a rearrangement of existing constituent parts  as follows: the present three tier arrangement of federal government, state government and local government  will be replaced by a new three tier arrangement of federal, regional and state government.

    The local government system reflected today in the present three tier government should be an affair of the regional government which will ensure its existence, structure and funding. Prince Momoh pleads from his heart that we save Nigeria by looking its problems in the face, dispassionately and solving them so that though tribes and tongues may differ in the Nigerian arrangement, in brotherhood we can stand. For, the sacrifices we make today will make the difference between joy and sorrow, dispersion of families for our children and their children. Therefore, let us sow joy that in the future our offspring shall never reap sorrow. Nigerians are severely stressed because the structures to make it function are faulty. Governance has been turned to a national bakery where those who work in it share the bread they refuse to help bake.

    Protecting the people and their property has not been carried out effectively. For example, an assistant director at Aso Villa, Laetitia Naankang Dagan was recently gruesomely murdered in her house at City Estate, Lokogama, Abuja by hoodlums. She was killed by  those whose activities she had reported to the Police. Obviously, her report had been leaked to the suspects who decided to exact their revenge on the unsuspecting woman. That can only happen in a nation in disarray. Two, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is currently investigating the diversion of funds in 2008 totalling N35 billion at the Ministry of Defence. The fund was in respect of the purchase of arms for the defence of the realm. Involved were a former minister, former Chief of Staff and ministry officials as having benefited from the misappropriation of funds. That is happening because Nigeria is a state of ebullition.

    Looking back to May 29, 1999 the day we started the walk on the Democracy highway, it is obvious the cost of sustaining the political arms of each tier is becoming unbearable. The President has said so, and so has the president of the senate. Our expenditure profile shows we spend about 92 percent of our resources on recurrent expenditure. The eight percent left is too little for funding development. This is the reason we're befriending China and are bent on getting loans from her. It is the reason why we could not muster uninterrupted power supply since independence in 1960. For progress, it is therefore imperative for us to make changes.

    We are a federation, thus, we must operate as a federation. The 36 states are too weak and too indigent to constitute the federating units. The present zones that have naturally emerged are six; they should constitute the federating units. We either convert them to states or make them regions. The powers of the centre are too many. Government is too involved in businesses which promotes corruption. When government is decongested, the economy will automatically be deregulated. Political deregulation must precede economic deregulation. Section 16 of the Constitution is ruining the national economy. The author, Prince Momoh hereby proposes the following changes as summarized by the reviewer.

    "We should retain the three tier arrangement of central government, regional government and state government. The central government will continue to be headed by an elected president..... If we revert to the Westminster model, then the Prime Minister will be elected from his constituency and the problem of religious politics will automatically disappear." Its law- making body should be the present 109 member Senate. The powers of the centre should be reduced. Only the powers that would mould the federating units should be retained. There should be six regional governments on the lines that have emerged as zones: North Central, North East, North West; South East, South South and South West. The 36 states shouldn't be the federating units.

    The law making bodies of the regions should be those elected from the present House of Representatives constituencies. Each region should be headed by a governor. he may be elected by the region or appointed by the party that forms the majority in the Regional House. All of the powers moved from the centre should be anchored in the Regional and state governments. The office of executive governor should be redesigned premier as we had in the First Republic. All members of the state executive council should come from the House of Assembly. The expense of electing the state governor to straddle the state treasury and do what he likes  with it, as has happened since May 29, 1999 can be saved and channeled to the development of the state. Prince Momoh avers that the 774 local governments should  revert to the Westminster local government system of the First Republic.

    In conclusion, the author outlined how to effect the changes. According to him, the changes can be effected constitutionally if we have the political will to do so. The Council of State as provided for under section 153(1)(b) of the Constitution has power to discuss any matter referred to it by the President. The President should table it before the Council outlining the problems of sustaining the present structure imposed by the military. If the Council agrees, the Federal Attorney General and his colleagues in the federation will prepare necessary documents that will reflect changes needed.  The changes will be sent to the lawmakers through the appropriate channels. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives  will cause them ratified without debate by the National Assembly. With endorsement of the state houses of assembly, the new Constitution becomes operational as provided for by section 9 of the Constitution.

    Prince Tony Momoh is the author of many books and pamphlets. He is a lawyer, journalist and politician. An alumnus of the Universities of Nigeria and Lagos; earned degrees in mass communication in 1967 and law in 1974 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1975. He has been Minister of Information and Culture; Chairman, African Ministers of Information; Chairman, Board of Nigeria Airways; General Manager, Times Publications Division, Editor, Daily Times; fellow, Nigerian Guild of Editors and chairman Accreditation Board, Nigeria Union of Journalists. He is the Yerima of Auchi kingdom; the former national chairman, Congress for Progressive Change, one of the parties that merged to form the All Progressives Congress. Presently, he is the Pro- Chancellor and Chairman, the Governing Council of the University of Jos.