Nigeria's federalism is sick, says Mazrui
From Martins Oloja, Abuja Bureau Chief
EULOGIES poured on-end for former military ruler, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, as he turned 70 yesterday.
Gowon, who ruled between 1966 and 1975, marked the birthday with, among others, a public lecture delivered by international scholar, Prof. Ali Mazrui.
The gathering was as eminent as the topic, "Mega-Nigeria, from Luggard to Gowon: Between Exceptionalism and typicality." The lecturer was also no less sublime and profound.
He made comparative analysis of the practice of federalism in the United States of America and Nigeria and declared that although the latter's federalism is alive, it is quite sick.
Mazrui also took a swipe at the military, stating that its intervention in politics had impacted negatively on the practice of federalism.
The eminent scholar declared that Nigeria is a paradigm of contradictions as it has failed to realise its potential owing to a number of factors.
The scholar said that the fundamental difference between federalism in both countries is that the political system could be described as ailing in Nigeria.
He continued: "While the very word federalism was almost anathema all over the rest of Africa, in Nigeria terms like "the Federal character of Nigeria" have added new forms of legitimacy to localised autonomies. Federalism in the USA is alive and well. Federalism in Nigeria is alive, but not well. But that is more than can be said for federalism in the rest of Africa."
Speaking on the ills of military interregnums, Mazrui said: "Nigeria's exceptional need for federalism is partly because of the enlargement of the scale initiated by the amalgamation of 1914. Nigeria is almost the only African country, which has consistently tried to maintain a federal system of government similar to the United States. It is true that Federalism and military rule make very strange bedfellows. Nigerian federalism has been distorted by militarism."
Painting a gory picture of the many missed opportunities that had left Nigeria prostrate, the scholar said that it was unfortunate that the country had a long history of contradictions in spite of being blessed with abundant human and natural resources."
His words: "The phenomenon of mega Nigeria continues to bestride the African world like a colossus. Nigeria has had more years under military rule than any other English-speaking country in Africa. And yet, Nigeria has helped restore democracy in Liberia and Sierra Leone. A major producer of oil has some of the longest lines for petrol in Africa.... Whither Nigeria? Whither Africa? And how will the tension between exceptionality and typicality play out?"
The professor of history eulogised the celebrant for initiating what he described as true federalism, stating that "Gowon abolished the original sub-regions, he invented new federalism."
Comparing Gowon to Abraham Lincoln, the scholar said: "Like the United States in the 1860s, Nigeria in the 1960s fought a civil war to save the union and save the boundaries of their respective federations. It is one of the ironies in history that U.S. and Nigeria produced their most compassionate leaders in conditions of war. Abraham Lincoln sought to teach his compatriots that a nation could not long endure half slave and half free. He also bequeathed to the lexicon of global democracy the concept of government of the people, for the people."
He stated further: "Yakubu Gowon had no major speech to be remembered by but he had a remarkable life to be celebrated. Lincoln went up the ladder of privilege to the Presidency and then death intervened before he could fall from grace. Gowon ascended to the top, but then lived to face the challenge of a fall from the pinnacle. Instead of resentment, he embraced his new circumstances. He said 'I on my own part have accepted the change and pledged my full loyalty to the nation, my country and to the government."
Other eminent Nigerians at the ceremony paid glowing tributes to the former Head of State.
Two former Heads of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and General Abdulsalami Abukabar, head of the defunct Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma and other senior citizens praised Gowon on his 70th birthday.
During the special birthday round-table discussion, entitled "The Challenges of National Integration in Nigeria," the former Head of State was described as the father of modern Nigeria.
The discussants agreed that Gowon played a historic role as Head of State when the nation was involved in the 30-month civil war and his major dream that "to keep Nigeria one and united is a task which must be done at all costs."
Shonekan, who was also the chairman of the occasion, said: "Gowon had a dream of a united Nigeria and he ensured that the nation remained united during the trial` time of between 1967 and 1970. Nigeria's unity was threatened, but Gowon never waived to the unity of Nigeria."
Buhari recalled that his first encounter with the celebrant was in Zaire as a Second Lieutenant in the Army. He said Gowon was already a major.
He recounted how Gowon wrote him in 1984 when he was the Head of State soliciting some funds to pay the school fees of his son, Ibrahim.
"Gowon was not a corrupt officer, because if he was, he would not be soliciting for money to pay the school fees of his son. This was a Head of State who ruled Nigeria for nine years", Buhari said.
Abdulsalami described Gowon as "a shinning example to all of us," adding that he owed his military career to the celebrant who as Head of State went round to ensure that able-bodied men were recruited into the armed forces.
Other speakers, who include Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, Alhaji Maitama Sule, and Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, paid special tributes to him.
In his tribute, Awoniyi said "his regime was the watershed of what we can aspire to do in this country."
"Gowon was a good manager of men. He restored true federalism in Nigeria, formed the Federal Executive Council where men and women of integrity were recruited to serve the country. He had respect for his permanent secretaries. He built a good economy and ensured that the society was democratic and never sidelined anybody in the running of the affairs of the country," he said.
Nwachukwu said that Gowon was a "reluctant warrior, the only Nigerian that deserves to be honoured."
The General who said that Gowon was not blood-thirsty like most military officers, stated that the celebrant as the head of state was aware of the coup that overthrew him, but did nothing to stop it because doing so would have led to bloodshed.
He described Gowon as the father of Nigeria's unity.
Also in his eulogy, elder statesman Maitama Sule said that Gowon was a leader with the fear of God and respect for human dignity, and that accounts for his success as a Head of State.
According to him, "Gown was a leader and not a ruler. He is a gentleman soldier, an honest man in all ramifications. He came to serve at a time Nigeria needed a leader. He has the fear of God and that was why he succeeded."
Gen. Danjuma said: "We are celebrating a colossus, a man of destiny, a man with impeccable character, a patriot and a selfless leader. He is a man with high moral standing and background. A man of power without arrogance who left office a pauper."
He commended the post-war policies of Gowon's administration, stating that it was what made it impossible for the emergence of guerrilla warfare after the war.
The occasion was attended by senior citizens like Gen. Domkat Bali, Murtala Nyako, Mobolaji Johnson, M.T. Mbu, Philip Asiodu, Isawa Elagwu, Solomon Asemota, Arthur Mbanefo, Bolaji Akinyemi, Matthew Kuka, Sunday Awoniyi, Ghali Na'Abba, Don Etiebet.
Solomon Lar, Maitama Sule, Lateef Adegbite, Adamu Muazu, and Abubakar Rimi among others.`
