Political analyst and lecturer, Dr Adetokunbo Pearse, has described Nigeria’s Independence Day as symbolic rather than transformational, stating that the country has not properly interrogated the concept of its independence.
According to him, meaningful change will only come through the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
“Every now and then, presidents try to chart a new course, but the most important effort was the 2014 Confab. Until its recommendations are implemented, we cannot make meaningful progress on security, economy, or national cohesion.”
Some of the key recommendations he listed include: Electoral reform: removing the power of the President to appoint INEC officials; Devolution of power: allowing states to control their resources and local security; Equal state representation: creating nine states per geo-political zone to ensure fairness in the National Assembly and Equity and fairness as the only way to eliminate tribalism and ethnocentrism.
“These changes would lead to stronger national unity and development,” he said.
