Anyaoku reiterates call for restructuring of Nigerian System of Government

Success Damian:

Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has reiterated the call for restructuring of Nigerian system of government.

He said such arrangement would bring about a change from presidential system to true federalism of four regions, with each region catering to its own development.

Anyaoku who made the call at the inaugural dialogue and book launch in honour of Hon. Justice Chinwe E. Iyizoba, JCA Rtd. and founder, African Women’s Forum for Good Governance (AWFG) noted that the Nigerian state was doing better when it was a true federation of four regions.

He said: “I believe our government structure is sound, it is operating it that is the challenge that the country faces. We have a structure that can cope with the challenges the country faces; the challenge of security, the challenge of climate change, and economic challenge. But, as I have said all the time, the present structure is not efficient, and cannot successfully cope with the challenges the country faces. 

“I have been advocating a restructuring of the architecture of governance in our country. I think this country was doing a lot better when it was a true federation of four regions. Each region were coping with its development, coping with its security, coping with its education and health facilities. We should return because the present structure in my view is not likely to lead us to where we want to get to.”

Expressing his concern at the current rate of criticism of the Nigerian judiciary, Ayaoku called on the judiciary, as well as the executive arm of government to do more to ensure they do not provide grounds for casting aspersions on the integrity and independence of the judiciary. 

Speaking on the rate of insecurity in the country, he said: “I think that the government is going in the right direction, am now advocating community policing. I think the security challenge we are facing in this country will be more effectively met if the different areas, different states of the country were to play more active part in safeguarding the security; life, property of the citizens.   

While commending AWFG in its bid to bring more women participation in leadership positions and interweaving good governance into the fabric of the African society, anyaoku noted that the womenfolk have been cheated out of governance.

He also commended Hon. Justice Chinwe Iyizoba whom he said has had a very distinguished career as a university teacher and attorney General before she went to the bench, adding that on the bench, she has acquitted herself very creditably, as she is retiring with a glorious record behind her. 

His words: “She is an intellectually active judge, and I hope now that she is going to retirement, she is going to write books, and push this initiative of African Women Forum for good governance; I am sure she will go a long way with that.”

Also speaking on the occasion, former governor, of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi said if a country gets everything right, and its politics and governance, wrong everything goes wrong, adding that Nigeria has not made the progress she should make in education,  economy and other areas because of bad politics and governance.

He said Nigerians need to fix their politics and governace by voting in the right people into public offices for things to work out smoothly in all sectors of their economy.

“The problems we are facing have nothing to do with government structure. We may have a structure problem, yes, we have issues, but once we have good human beings involved in governance, these problems will be solved. We need good people to be involved and those who are in office should know that they are holding public trust”, he said.

On her part, Hon. Justice Chinwe Iyizoba urged Nigerian women to vote right, and put into power people who are worthy to be their leaders.

Said she: “Women are the bulk of voters, if only they (women) will learn to vote right, then that will help us to put into power people who are worthy to be our leaders. I think time has come for our women to understand that they hold all the aces. If women would understand the power of their votes, and it is no good to simply vote somebody in because he gave you money, then we will begin to make progress. 

“As someone rightly said, the right people are out and the wrong people are in because the right people don’t have the money or are not willing to spend their money to fight for politics or for power if they intend when they get there to do the right thing. So, why would he? He has something to offer and you want him to pay for it, he doesn’t want it like that. It’s about time that our people learnt that  progress is putting the right people in power; people who have something to offer, who want to serve the country.”