Unitary Federalism, A Tragic Error In Nigeria, Says Don

A retired university teacher, Professor Philip Adetiloye said Nigeria needs to jettison what he called unitary federalism to ensure development and growth of the country.

Prof Adetiloye also called on non-governmental and civil society organisations and the organised labour to sensitise Nigerians to fight for local and state autonomy to achieve true federalism, security, peace and prosperity in the country.

Adetiloye stated this on Monday in Ado-Ekiti while addressing journalists on the state-of-the-nation where he posited that adoption of unitary federalism was a great mistake that has created hopelessness in Nigeria.

The professor of Crop Science was of the view that Nigeria needed to be reformed to avoid balkanization adding, “It is not possible to get out of the present state of hopelessness by continuing with the same tragic error of unitary federalism.

“No honest Nigerian in his right frame of mind be he or she a Yoruba, Igbo, Ibibio, Hausa or Fulani can build enduring or sustainable democracy and prosperity for Nigerians under the present unitary federalism.

“Therefore, it may not follow that rebuilding Nigeria infrastructure, roads, electricity, railways and refineries will guarantee justice, fairness, peace and sustained national development under the present administration if Nigeria remains under unitary federalism”.

He stressed that autonomies for local and state government are required institutional frameworks for economic growth and prosperity.

“The legislative arm of government should urgently define the responsibilities of local, state and federal governments within a truly federated union and pass the autonomy bill for local and state governments into law without foot-dragging. Local government areas can only succeed when they have the necessary financial autonomy,” Adetiloye said.

While urging the federal government to lower the fuel prices to reflect the income of middle class, he also called for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), saying it has outlived its purpose of uniting Nigerians.

The septuagenarian urged Nigerians to rise up to interrogate the country’s political system and politicians who he accused of continued impunity to corruptly enrich themselves while refusing to implement policies and programmes that can enhance the quality of life of the people.