By Lukman Olabiyi
Some legal practitioners in the country have expressed divergent views on the proposed reintroduction of regional governments in the country.
A former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ikeja, Dave Ajetomobi, expressed strong support for regionalism, believing it could address systemic imbalances in Nigeria’s governance.
He noted that the country experienced significant regional development prior to the 1966 Unification Decree by General Ironsi.
Ajetomobi stated, “Regionalism will prevent the current scenario where some benefit disproportionately from others’ labour. The federal system favours certain groups, hindering overall progress. Allowing regions to develop at their own pace could lead to faster national growth.”
He also supported the idea of a six-year single presidential term, linking it to the current dissatisfaction with leadership. “The U.S. has maintained a two-term presidency for over 200 years without calls for a reduction in term length,” he remarked.
Rights activist and lawyer Maduka Onwukeme echoed Ajetomobi’s views on regionalism, arguing that it could tackle Nigeria’s numerous challenges.
He suggested merging some unviable states into regions to reduce governance costs, promoting fiscal federalism to foster competition and development.
Onwukeme acknowledged the potential benefits of Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for a rotational presidency but emphasized that it should be coupled with regional autonomy. “Too much power resides with the Federal Government; decentralization is crucial for regional development,” he stated.
However, another lawyer Kabiru Akingboolu argued against regionalism, warning that it might intensify ethnic rivalries and lead to secession.
He believes Nigeria requires effective leadership rather than just a change in governance structure.
Regarding Atiku’s six-year term proposal, Akingboolu criticized it as a limitation on voters’ ability to hold leaders accountable.
Gideon Okebu, another rights activist and lawyer, contended that regionalism is not a viable solution for Nigeria.
He pointed out the challenges of regional governance in the past, asserting that it weakened national unity. “What Nigeria needs are structures that promote cohesion rather than division,” he argued. Okebu highlighted the persistent issue of marginalization, particularly affecting the eastern regions, which has fuelled demands for self-governance. He stressed that any governance restructuring must address corruption and ineffective leadership.
He concluded that without tackling these core issues, any form of governance, be it federal or regional, will struggle to bring about meaningful progress.