Dr. Amos Akingba, a prominent leader of the National Federation for Democracy during the military regime and head of the Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere, discusses Western interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs, challenges of federalism and other national issues.
How well has Nigeria managed its autonomy issues in the 64 years since independence?
The problems in this country are very poorly managed. When America gained independence in October 1960, its first political leaders did their best. However, perhaps due to our inexperience with self-government, the situation became difficult and led to military intervention.
This created many problems that only grew over time and set us back. The military that was supposed to keep us safe took over governance instead, but it did us no good. Their involvement was nothing but sadness.
What do you think Nigeria has done right since independence and where do you think it has stumbled?
We don’t do anything right. We don’t move forward, we move backwards. Despite having abundant human and material resources, those in charge have misused them because they do not understand democratic governance. We were an authoritarianism, not a democracy. We are in a much worse situation due to the influence of the military. Education systems, health services, infrastructure, and electricity are all in decline. From Tinubu to those before him, the governance was disgraceful. No one seems to care.
Do you think Nigeria’s current structure still reflects the ideals of independence, or do you think the country has strayed from those principles?
It’s not a matter of faith. I know that our political leaders have strayed from the ideals and principles of independence. We need to return to the original structure of democratic governance through regional federations. Stay within ethnically manageable boundaries. Currently we have a loose federation. For example, the federal government still controls issues from the center down to the states. That system doesn’t work and isn’t working. Everything in the country was centralized. True federalism no longer exists. States have no real power over what happens within their borders. They simply carry out the instructions of the federal government and if they don’t comply they will face problems. We are not able to govern ourselves as we should in a democracy, especially in a multi-ethnic society. Our constitution has been overthrown by the military, so we need to go back to it and make the necessary amendments. Until we do that, we will continue to retreat until we reach a breaking point, at which point we will all eventually do the right thing.
Do you still believe that despite independence, the Western world is not exempt from Nigeria’s challenges?
When Western countries appoint people with no leadership skills as leaders, they inevitably interfere in their internal affairs. It’s that simple. Western countries are manipulating Nigeria’s leaders and Nigerians themselves are being manipulated into electing leaders who are unfit for the role. We need to understand that even though we may be stupid and not do the right thing, no one will love us more than we love ourselves. Those who control us are incompetent.
You recently said, “We (Nigeria) have democracy, but that doesn’t mean we have democracy.” What does that statement mean? How do you assess the current state of democracy in Nigeria?
We don’t have democracy. We’re just claiming we do — that’s all I’m saying. How can we have democracy if local governments are not independent in any sense? That’s not democratic. Even the states are not independent enough to do what they need to do. Everything comes from the federal government, and the federal government issues the directives. If you obey, you will receive money. If you don’t, you won’t get anything. What we have is “militarism”, not democracy. Since independence, the military has ruled Nigeria longer than the civilian population. They did what they knew, ruled with an iron fist, militarized everywhere and passed it on to civilian governments.
What do you think are the main challenges facing our democracy?
It needs to be rebuilt. We must return to the way we were governed before the military intervention. A national assembly was held during the time of former President Jonathan, but it was rejected. If we don’t take that step, we will be in serious trouble.
Do you think Nigeria’s federal system is working effectively or is it being undermined?
From what has been said, it is clear that Nigeria’s so-called federalism has been undermined by the military. Federalism doesn’t work, and never has. We are headed for a crisis that will ultimately lead to an implosion, and everyone will go their own way.
In an interview, you said that Nigeria cannot be successfully run as a single nation. Do you think decentralization can improve governance in Nigeria?
Yes, decentralization, especially into different single ethnic groups and groups that can unite like the middle belt, would help improve governance. The Igbo people, like the Yoruba and northern tribes, have identifiable units. The middle belt is more complex, but can also be combined. I’ve done this before. A framework exists, but it is not being followed.
Many advocate reorganizing Nigeria into local governments similar to the pre-1966 era. What do you think about this and do you think it will solve some of the problems in this country?
Necessary modifications must be made to address modern issues, but the fundamentals are important. We must establish our own constitution and have a functioning federal system with local governments. We can amend the Constitution to reflect modern realities.
President Tinubu has been a strong pillar of NADECO. How do you assess the president’s stance on federalism since he took office?
I don’t know what kind of deal Mr. Tinubu has with the people who allowed him to become president. The people who put him there are watching him. But I know he’s not a stupid guy. He knows what needs to be done when given the opportunity. While I am concerned about some of his approaches, it cannot continue to be a Fulani-only agenda. If anyone undermines him undemocratically, it will hasten Nigeria’s downfall.
Who were the people who brought Tinubu to power?
It’s the Fulani – the military and the Fulani elite made him president. Nigerians know who they are. Do you think it’s a coincidence that a southerner became the ruler of Nigeria? That’s a joke. Look at how they treat Biafrans. They don’t even know what they want. If they want to leave, who will stop them? If they want to stay, is this the way to stay and succeed? We are all jokers. Nigerians are no longer respected globally. Because Nigerians are not respectable.
NADECO was established to highlight socio-political issues in Nigeria such as military rule and perversion of justice. Are you confident that NADECO has achieved its goals even after 30 years?
NADECO has not achieved its objectives. It’s still a work in progress. Religion won’t help us. It only makes some people rich. Our economy, education, health, and politics are not working. None of our institutions work for the benefit of the people. When a small elite takes advantage of everything and gains power, they become too arrogant to respond to the people.
As a NADECO veteran, what do you think about the current political situation in Nigeria? Has the struggle for democracy and human rights brought the desired results?
We are in a deep crisis. I have told some friends not to expect stability because it never happens, and it never will. There’s poverty, disease, all kinds of problems. We lack political wisdom, religious wisdom, and integrity in the principles of life and living. We are not true, that is why we are unstable.
How do you evaluate the current administration’s economic, security, and governance policies? Do you think they are leading the country in the right direction?
There is no difference in policy. It’s the same as before, just a different face. Be it APC, Labor Party or PDP, they all follow the same pattern. The situation has not improved. We need to go back to our pre-military constitution and revise it to reflect the modern world. We must abandon the imposed constitution. Jonathan’s meeting was a good concept. It should be reviewed. I was the representative of the Yoruba people at that time and I know the problems we faced and the recommendations we made. Unfortunately, our efforts were in vain. We need to review all constitutions from 1962 to date, bring together representatives of different ethnic groups to evaluate and submit recommendations to the Nigerian people. If you don’t, circumstances will force you to do so.
Southern and northern senators are divided on calls for a return to local government. Can reconstruction be achieved without parliamentary support?
It would be best for us to have one Congress, but unfortunately our two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives, are not working because they function under a flawed Constitution. If we disagree on an issue that benefits Nigerians, we should vote to resolve the issue.
The Supreme Court recently granted autonomy to local governments in Nigeria. Do you think that is in keeping with the spirit of federalism?
Yes, but what does that actually mean? Local governments should manage their own jurisdictions, but key areas such as foreign affairs and defense should belong to the federal government. Local government autonomy cannot be treated in isolation. To ensure true democracy and independence of the federal unit, it must be considered in the context of the states and the division of responsibilities. It all depends on whether you have a functional constitution.
I wish the government all the best, but wishful thinking alone will not solve the problem. If you’re not doing the right things, you won’t get the right results. You can’t load a Volkswagen Beetle with logs and expect it to go fast. That won’t work. This country has the education and ability to do the right thing, but greed and mismanagement continue to hinder our progress.
