By Ugo Onuoha
It will be difficult, probably impossible, to make Nigeria work the way it is presently structured and governed. In theory, we are running a federal system. In practice, it is a unitary structure where operatives in Abuja determine who gets what, how, when, and where.
The Osun Example and a Flawed Federal System
Until recently, Osun State, governed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), became the latest victim of this distorted arrangement. The Supreme Court had ruled in July 2024 that local government funds must be paid directly to councils, not through state governments. It also declared that only democratically elected councils are entitled to federal allocations.
Yet, that judgment has largely been ignored. Some states have passed laws effectively nullifying it, and in many others, it remains business as usual.
Ironically, the same federal government that sought the ruling, under President Bola Tinubu, has itself been accused of flouting it. For months, Abuja withheld Osun’s local government allocations, claiming that PDP-controlled councils were illegitimate. The state was forced to rely on Governor Ademola Adeleke and his nephew, musician Davido, who reportedly contributed funds to pay council workers’ salaries.
When Osun challenged the federal government at the Supreme Court, the court struck out the case for lack of standing but condemned Abuja’s action as “illegal and egregious.” Both sides claimed victory, but Nigerians were left with the same lesson: partisan politics trumps governance.
Politicians vs. Statesmen
The Osun case typifies a larger truth, partisan politicians cannot build nations. They are fixated on winning the next election, not on laying enduring foundations. Any country dominated by politicians rather than statesmen will struggle on the lower rungs of global development. That, sadly, has been Nigeria’s reality since the military sacked the First Republic in 1966.
Nation-Building: A Process, Not an Event
Nigeria will not work until we are intentional about making a nation out of the country. Building a sustainable nation requires a shared vision that fosters unity, common values, and inclusive governance. It also demands:
- Transparent and accountable institutions
- Security and the rule of law
- Diversified economic development beyond oil
- Investment in education, healthcare, and innovation
- Social cohesion and citizen participation
Without these, our quest for progress will remain an illusion.
The Foundation Is Broken
The biblical question in Psalm 11:3 asks: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Nigeria’s foundation, fractured by the 1966 coup and deepened by years of military rule, remains defective. The 1999 Constitution, hurriedly drafted by the Abdulsalami Abubakar junta, was designed to serve narrow interests—not the people. For nearly three decades, we’ve been trying to erect a nation on a bogus foundation.
To move forward, Nigeria must start afresh, with a people-driven constitution that reflects true federalism and equity.
A Case for Restructuring
Many credible voices, including The Patriots led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, have long called for a new national arrangement. Their proposals include:
- A new, people-driven Constitution drafted by a non-partisan Constituent Assembly and approved through a referendum
- True federalism with six or eight federating zones, each with its own constitution
- Fiscal federalism and devolution of powers
- A smaller federal cabinet and unicameral legislature
- Electoral and judicial reforms, including technological voting and specialized courts
These ideas, if sincerely implemented, can provide a roadmap to rebuild Nigeria.
Structural Inequities and Centralized Power
The existing federal structure, largely created by military fiat, is riddled with inequities. For instance, the old Kano State was split into Kano and Jigawa, now boasting over 70 local councils combined—while Lagos, with a similar population, has only 20. This imbalance affects representation and resource distribution.
Power is dangerously centralized in the presidency, making elections a do-or-die affair and fueling corruption. The figures involved in federal scandals have ballooned from billions to trillions of naira, yet Nigerians no longer express shock. The presidency has become a “golden calf”, an object of worship.
Unchecked power breeds inefficiency, arrogance, and impunity. The signs are visible everywhere.
The Way Forward
To make Nigeria work, we must:
- Rebuild the foundation through a new constitution anchored on fairness and true federalism.
- Shift from partisan politics to statesmanship, focusing on national unity rather than party victory.
- Strengthen institutions and make them independent of political interference.
- Diversify the economy and ensure infrastructure, power, and education receive sustained attention.
- Restore security and trust between citizens and the state.
Until these steps are taken, Nigeria will continue to move in circles—rich in potential, poor in leadership, and crippled by structure.
In conclusion, Nigeria’s tragedy is not that it lacks talent or resources, but that it is burdened by a defective system and a political class unwilling to change it. The challenge before us is to summon the courage to rebuild from the ground up. Otherwise we will keep trying to place something on nothing and expecting it to stand.
Ugo Onuoha is a journalist, public affairs commentator, and former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Champion Newspapers Limited. He writes from Lagos.
