SECURITY: True Federalism, Restructuring, Decentralization of Power, and the Need For State Police in Nigeria.

(This essay is a follow-up to the recent Edo Central Senatorial election debate and the train attack at Ekekhen/Igueben on the same day, January 07, 2022).

“Why can’t we have a system of government that will create what I will call the United States of Nigeria? Let me explain. We all know that we must restructure. It is either we restructure, or we break up, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that. That is certain – restructure or we break up." By the General Overseer, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye – The Guardian, October 04, 2020.

RESTRUCTURING

What exactly is Restructuring, and why is it considered by some Nigerians as subversive maneuvering by some other Nigerians to dismantle Nigeria through the back door? Without mincing words, that accusation is rooted in greed and an unbridled sense of entitlement.

Restructuring as a political concept was made popular by the former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, when he demanded and launched a new era of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). His groundbreaking theory did not only lay the foundation for the dismantling of the monstrosity called the USSR (The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic), it saved the second most powerful military nation on earth from self-annihilation. And in 1991, the huge union devolved into 15 nation-states of an equal part.

Today, the Russians are no longer trooping to Europe to seek political asylum. And no more Soviet Scientists and professors running to the United States of America to engage in the taxi business. As you read, the nation of Ukraine is on the verge of imminent annihilation, and Putin’s Russia, with its new wealth and revival of its nuclear arsenal, is daring NATO and the rest of the world to mortal combat.

Also, the six nation-states (Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) that emerged from the former Yugoslavia are happier now than ever before. No more bloodshed or threats of ethnic cleansing.

There is no doubt, the benefits of Restructuring and True Federalism cannot be overemphasized. The political philosophy of Decentralization of Power or Restructuring is huge and all-encompassing of the nitty-gritty of government; however, this essay is narrowed down to state Police and Resource Control.

For the benefit of nonlawyers as well as those who didn't take Government as a subject or course in grammar school, the first section of the essay is focused on the three systems of government - Federal, Confederal, and Unitary. Followed by the views of four prominent Nigerians, a Case for State Police, Resource Control, and the conclusion. We did not, however, address how are federal system metamorphosed into a unitary system. That discussion, thanks to General Abacha and Baba IBB, is outside of the scope of this essay.

TRUE FEDERAL, CONFEDERAL, AND UNITARY SYSTEMS.

A Federal system of government involves the delegation of power between the central government, the federating states, and local government councils. The ability of the component states to manage their resources, raise revenues, participate in the ratification of the national constitution, make laws, provide security, and regulate the general well-being of the citizens within their geographical and political boundaries are some of the fundamental elements of a Federal system of governments.

Under a Unitary model, the central government delegates power and authority to the states and local government councils (as we have today, though we are federal). A Federal system is a midway between a Unitary system and a Confederacy system (where the component states command a large degree of autonomy and are more powerful than or as powerful as the central government). We did gamble briefly with a Unification Decree under Aguiyi Ironsi post-1966 Military Coup, but was rejected as a colonizing weapon by the young Military Officers who waged the counter-coup of 1967.

In a Confederacy arrangement, the central government only exercises the power and authority reserved for it or delegated to it by the component states. In other words, the component states dominate the central governments and operate as semi-independent nation-states. Canada and Switzerland are some of the few countries where the Confederacy is presently in operation. The late Chief Olu Aboderin, the publisher of the Punch newspaper was the first Nigerian to advocate for a confederation option. And the late Chief Bisi Onabajo of Ogun state took it up from where Mr. Aboderin left off.

Constitutionally, Nigeria is a Federal system, but in reality, we operate a unitary system of government. Today, the component states in the federation cannot fend for themselves and cannot survive on their own, without monthly allocations from the central governments - a federal government that now exercises total and absolute control over our natural resources. That was never the intention of our Founding Fathers. The Thirty-Six States in the federation are like local councils - a true replica of a unitary model - where the center is more powerful than the whole, with the exception of Lagos State.

THE VIEWS PROF WOLE SOYINKA, FASHOLA (SAN), ROTIMI AMAECHI, AND GOVERNOR EL'RUFAI

In the words of Professor Wole Soyinka, ”Nigeria has proved too large and inefficient for the centralized identification and management of such human skills and material resources, the center has become self-aggrandizing, bloated, parasitic, and alienated. Now is the time to put into practice that ancient saying: Small is beautiful. We must return to the earlier days of creative rivalry that pronounces that vanishing past an interrupted project of promise, creativity, and productivity. Then, it may be possible for your generation to say contentedly, even while the harvest is still distant but the soil is cleanly prepared, the seeds implanted and germinating: Mission? Accomplished!” Professor Wole Soyinka: "Mission The Future" - A Speech Delivered at the 2nd South-South Economic Summit in Asaba. 03/25/2014

The former Governor of Lagos State, Raji Fashola in his "Liberating and Coordinating Diversity” speech at Johns Hopkins University, SAIS, DC, the United States of America on April 2013, stated: “The realization of these demands [Decentralization of Power and True Federalism] on their own may not necessarily leapfrog us into El Dorado, but without them, the journey will be torturous. If they materialize, they liberate the possibilities that lie inherent in the diverse capacities that the Nigerian states and local governments are blessed with. In that event, the Federal Government will not be without authority or responsibility but, in my view, it will be better able to coordinate the diversities for mutual prosperity."

That was Mr. Fashola (SAN) in 2013, he diligently and constructively articulated the ills of our present federal system and why it must be rejected for True Federalism to thrive. So, why is he not making the same argument today? I have no clue. Thank God, we have his works handy and we can conveniently cite them - as we're doing now - to convince the doubting Thomas that the monstrosity at Abuja is not sustainable.

The Minister of Transportation, the former Governor of River State on the issue of resource control. He was blunt and thought-provoking beyond expression. Speaking at the retreat organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, SCCR, in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, Governor Amaechi said: “We want the Federal Government to reduce the responsibilities that they have as well as the resources that they have because I am first of all a Rivers citizen before I became a Nigerian.” Unbelievable. He is not done, yet.

Making one of the strongest arguments for the State Police that day, Amaechi said: “I used Rivers resources to train 300 policemen; these policemen were trainedIndeed the structural decay is real. There is too much power and control in the command of a sitting President of Nigeria. So, tracing the genesis and trajectory of that anomaly is not immoral. Now is the time to abrogate that humongous power at the national level (the unitary model) and spread more of it to state and local government councils in the true spirit of a federal system. That is the view of most Nigerians from north to south and from east to west. by the Israelis. We had an understanding with the police authorities in Abuja that they will remain in Rivers for some time after their training. But the moment a certain IGP came, just because he did not like a certain Amaechi, he posted the policemen out. But if we have State police, such a thing will never happen.” True Federalism: The plots of our governors - Vanguard, August 22, 2010.

There is nothing wrong with the views that Mr. Rotimi propounded here, but why is he, in a similar fashion as Mr. Fasholar, reluctant now to speak up and STAND UP FOR TRUE FEDERALISM? Again, I have no clue.

In the opinion of Governor El'Rufai: “As a medium-term structural measure, we must work to restore our federalism to the broad outlines embedded in the 1963 republican constitution, devolving more powers and responsibilities to the states and making the federal government less of a busy body. This would require that states like Bauchi whose annual internally-generated revenue is N7 billion should not run a government costing N58 billion because of monthly hand-outs from Abuja. Each state should learn to live within its means and seek to actively develop its comparative endowments. State governors will then be compelled to use their resources better and not point fingers at the federal government.” Between Terrorism and Corruption by El'Rufai - Sahara Reporters, May 10, 2012.

Hate him or love him, Mallam El’Ruffai, a Northern Fulani Muslim, has not deviated one bit from his position on True Federalism.

In principle, there is nothing wrong with federalism or the federal system of government. Ours became an aberration because the concept was abused, distorted, and manipulated by every administration at the national level since the end of the civil war and the crude oil windfall. However, after a repeated perusal of the opinions of Fashola, Amaechi, and El'Rufai on the subject, I'm still short of words to explain my perplexity over President Buhari's demurral in organizing a national conference and decentralizing the system accordingly. In the words of Pastor Adeboye, "we all know that we must restructure. It is either we restructure, or we break up, you don’t have to be a prophet to know that.

A CASE FOR STATE POLICE

(1) On March 17, 2016, according to verified newspapers and television report, 'Armed men in Military uniform invaded the Ugwuneshi community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State and arrested 76 of their men on the allegation that they were planning a counterattack against Fulani Herdsmen who kidnapped two of their women. In spite of the fact that they came in Military trucks and fully dressed in military fatigue and took their captives to Umuhia Prison, the Military did not claim responsibility. They were released about two weeks later. No accountability on record and no explanation or compensation for their ordeals. No one could give an account of who authorized the military invasion, and whether or not they were a contingent of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

(2) Evening time, on April 24, 2016, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, received intelligence reports that the herders' attack is imminent at Ukpabi Nimbo in Uzouwani Local Government Area. A high-level security meeting was immediately convened." "Present at the meeting were the state Commissioner of Police as well as the DSS Boss. The President was alerted. And Kogi State Commissioner of Police was also alerted. The meeting lasted until about 11 P.M., and the Governor was assured that all is safe and well.

At about 5.15 am on April 25, 2016, about 500 armed herdsmen, came from nowhere and surrounded the village, fully armed and poised for combat. Abuja was alerted by the Governor, but no help came. At about 6.30 A.M., the killers struck, killing about 46 people, while about four others were seriously injured. When it was all over, the Governor was seen on video in a pensive mood, crying and going through the unsightly pictures of butchered cadavers, lying wasted all over the place.

How did they get to Nimbo Village? How come when the Governor called Abuja, the IGP, and the State Commissioner of Police for help, help did not come?

(3) On February 14, 2018, one Efe, the head of a Vigilante group in a village near Benin City was shot to death execution-style by a member of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The tragic event began when some headsmen who wreaked havoc on their farmlands were apprehended. After Efe was shot, the Military Personnel who shot him to death, released the herders. Efe was a target because he had the audacity to organize and repel the incursions of herders into their farmlands. His death is an indictment of the Nigerian Armed Forces and sure proof of their overt support of the Fulani Cattle Herders in their conquering mission.

Two Governors are now on records, stating that they alerted the IGP, the Presidency, and the State Commissioner of Police of pending attacks and asked for protection. And on each occasion, no support came from the Police or the Army. The attackers came, killed every human being in sight, and disappeared into the thin air, unapprehended.

The Nimbo massacre bears a similar pattern to the gruesome armed robbery attack on four commercial banks at Uromi township in February 2022 that lasted for about two hours. The attackers came, robbed, and went like the wind unscathed.

The establishment of a State Police is likely going to be a dominant issue in the coming National Assembly under True Federalism, Restructuring, and Decentralization of Power.

With the evolution of true federalism (semi-autonomy for the federating states), State Police would be a welcome development. In that case, Mobile Police and Highway Patrol (Federal Trooper) should remain under the exclusive control of the Federal Government.

Highway Patrol should be merged with Federal Road Safety Commission to manage Federal Institutions, Foreign offices and Institutions, and Federal Highways. The Mobile Police Unit should be transformed into a SWAT TEAM for rapid response assignments nationwide.

On the other hand, the regular Police should now be under the control and command of the respective State Governments. The respective states and local government councils, should, as necessary, set up their own special forces for emergency deployment.

I have always argued that a State Commissioner of Police must be answerable to the people of the state, not the President or the Inspector General of Police at Abuja.

The State Governors and their security team should be available to take action to quell insurgency or insecurity whenever and wherever it's happening, without contending with the bureaucratic monstrosity at Abuja that hinders rapid response operations.

Adding to that, the present Local Vigilante groups Atanakpa, for instance, should be upgraded to Community or Local Government Police, after comprehensive training in weapon handling, public relations, communication skills, and rapid response orientation.

The emergence of the nationwide Local Vigilante was necessitated by the dysfunctional Unitary System and over-concentration of power in the center of Abuja. Nigeria is too huge for all the state machinery and functions to be concentrated in one source.

The culture of low expectations at the federal level trickles down effortlessly to the state and local government levels. In other words, if our regular Police Force was Highly mobile and efficient, there wouldn't be any recourse to local vigilantes.

So, we cannot overemphasize the importance of State and City (Local Government) Police as applicable under True Federalism. They should be entitled to Healthcare, Credit Union membership, and Retirement benefits like regular Police Forces. The present community or individual sponsorship is not sustainable. They need to be upgraded.

A few years ago, two members of the local vigilante from Ewohimi were shot to death in the line of duty and Ewohimi at home and diaspora contributed some funds to support the bereaved families. That's not sustainable.

Finally, while the debate for the establishment of a State Police is unfolding, I would strongly recommend the establishment of a twenty-four hours Highways Patrol Unit within the Police Force at the Federal, State, and local government levels, instead of the usual roadblocks or checkpoints all over our highway.

ON RESOURCE CONTROL

Given that crude oil is the mainstay of our economy, it would be disingenuous on our part to demand or suggest that the oil-producing states should assume exclusive control and ownership of the mineral resources (oil and gas) in their respective states at this stage. That would be economically suicidal for some states, especially in some parts of the country where there is 100% reliance on the federal government for their sustenance. Presently, in most parts of the country where natural resources deposit does exist, they lack the funding and technical capacity to embark on exploratory activities at a commercial scale. It requires massive capital infusion, an efficient labor force, and planning. And we cannot rule out the accommodation of Private Public Partnership (PPP) initiatives and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by the states in this category.

Therefore, we suggest that the oil-producing states exercise control of the Onshore Mineral deposits in their respective states. The same standard should apply as well in other states in the federation regarding the ownership and control of mineral resources. On the other hand, Offshore Mineral deposits (oil and gas) within a certain limit of our Economic Exclusion Zone or Continental Shelf should be under the exclusive control and ownership of the federal government - that is the part of the Nigerian territorial water, which should not belong to the coastal states.

MOVING FORWARD

For true federalism and decentralization to take hold and subsist in Nigeria, resource control and the introduction of the State Police Command are paramount. Given the nature of our electoral history, I firmly believe and hold that we will not be able to elect selfless visionary leaders capable of bringing to fruition our dreams of one great nation and egalitarian society of equal rights and justice, because of the dictatorship of a very privileged few, supported by the bourgeois class they created via the spoils of office. We can decentralize, without jeopardizing our age-old social and cultural integration. The devolution of certain responsibilities of the central government to the regional governments, like State Police and internal security forces and control over natural resources, will make for efficiency, and no doubt, curtail the massive scale of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and banditry.

For a start, you cannot separate the leadership crisis from the manipulation of our federal system and the resultant structural decay. They are the same. The manipulation or distortion of our federal system gave birth to the structural problems, and the structural problems, in turn, create fertile ground for nurturing the opportunists we are having at the national level as well as in most of the states and local government councils - leading to a culture of low expectations. And that's the thesis of this essay.

Undoing that is a task before you and me. Because maintaining the status quo is the shortest distance to anarchy, disintegration, or a bloody revolution. It is the structure that breeds leadership with questionable character. Fix the structure, and you fix the leadership crisis. And it must start with the decentralization of Abuja.

Above all, with the evolution of true federalism or semi-autonomous status for the federating states, the struggle for the control of Aso Rock would diminish drastically. In other words, if we decentralize the power and the resources under the control of Aso Rock; create the right incentives for the federating states within the union to manage their people and the natural resources within their geographical boundaries, the animosity, hatred, ethnic irredentism wrecking our political system, as well as the "do or die" approach that encapsulates pursuit of power at the federal level would ebb significantly.

Barr Alex Ehi Aidaghese (LLM)

Accord Candidate Edo Central Senatorial District.