Regionalism not a good idea – Prof. Ibrahim

Jibrin Ibrahim, a professor of Political Science and a member of the governing board of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) shares his thoughts on the clamour for return to a regional structure of government, arguing that pursuing this path may demand creating an extra structure of governance.

Agitations for the return of Nigeria to regional government are gathering momentum. What do you make of it?

Well, I think there have been discussions about restructuring in Nigeria for decades now. It’s an issue of general concern, and people have different ideas of what it is. So, regionalism is one of such ideas. I don’t think it’s a very good idea because states are here to stay, and if you want to pursue regionalism, in my view, it means you are going to add an extra structure of governance over the state structure in a context where the cost of governance in Nigeria is already excessive. So, I don’t think it’s a good idea. 

But some persons continue to clamour for it. Why do you thing this agitation is gathering momentum at this moment?

I don’t think it is gathering momentum.  I think there is a lot of opposition to it. I know some people are for it but I don’t see evidence that it is gathering momentum. I am seeing evidence that there are lots of doubts and interrogation about it.

Some suggests that these agitations – return to regionalisms and parliamentary system – are not issues that should be at the top burner at the moment that they might just be diversionary. What do you make of this?

I think these are serious political propositions. I don’t think they are diversionary. We may agree or disagree on them; that’s a different issue, but I don’t agree that they are diversionary. They are issues of substance. People who really think going back to parliamentary for instance would be better for us; I don’t think so, but I think it is a legitimate advocacy to engage with.

Regional government has been practiced in the past. Will you say Nigeria was better off then?

Nigeria of today is very different from the Nigeria of the First Republic and it’s very difficult to compare. The reality about Nigeria is that after three decades of presidential system, it is very difficult to change to the parliamentary system of cabinet government wherein you have collective responsibility. It will be very difficult in our present context. But I think it is a legitimate demand to make.

Will you say lack of history knowledge is responsible for these agitations among the youths, especially?

I think it is not a question of whether you learnt history or not. It is a question of really studying political transformation in Nigeria over the past four decades.