Fani-Kayode calls for national discourse on Nigerian unity

Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of Aviation has called for a national discourse and devolution of power to regions, saying it is the only way to guarantee a united and indivisible Nigeria.

Fani-Kayode made the call in an interview with our reporter on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that unless the leadership of the country saw the necessity of bringing all ethnic nationalities together to discuss the challenges facing the nation, the unity of the country could not be guaranteed.

“My view is that if we don’t sit down and discuss about our problems and challenges, then this unity that we all hope for will be brought to question.

“It will only be a matter of time before we have much stronger agitations. We are already facing a few here or there.

“If we don’t sort ourselves out quickly and address the issues and the concerns of every single ethnic nationality in this country, of course we have many challenges and issues, there will be more problems.

“We should sit down and try and understand one another, iron out these differences and try to settle them.

“And if not, that’s when you are toying with the idea of possibly breaking this country up eventually,’’ he said.

Fani-Kayode said that all the recent agitations from all parts of the country meant that many citizens were not satisfied with the present arrangement because only a few were benefiting from it.

He therefore stressed the need for a national discourse where all challenges would be tabled and tackled.

On restructuring of the country, he said the devolution of power from the centre to the regions or zones was the way forward.

He said that the whole concept of 36 states was no longer sustainable because it was part of the major problem that the country was facing.

“We break the country into small states and make the states very expensive to run and they don’t even reflect the aspirations and the yearnings of the people,’’ he said.

He described the creation of states as artificial by a few “elites basically for commercial purposes’’.

“Therefore devolution of power from the centre to the various regions and zones, not to the states is preferable.

“We’ve got to talk about devolution to the various regions and possibly to the zones so that everybody can take control of their destinies, manage their own resources and develop at their own pace.

“And that way, we may be able to salvage the country and enhance the unity of the country.

“Nobody would want to leave if they felt that they are able to achieve their full potential as human beings and that really is the way forward for Nigeria.’’

Fani-Kayode also called for a constitutional reform where the aspirations and yearnings of all the sections of the country would be reflected and every Nigerian would be happy and fulfilled.

“We are entering a difficult stage in the development of our country now.

“It takes a lot of strength and faith to want to stand at a time like this but I trust God that we will prevail,’’ he said.