From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar bemoaned the state of the nation and declared that the leadership has not learnt lessons from past mistakes.
He said this at a book launch, We are all Biafrans , held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, in Abuja, yesterday.
“Again, here, we come back to the same economic challenges facing the country, but, we also have a leadership that is not prepared to learn from the past and, also, not prepared to lead,” he said.
The Turaki Adamawa also spoke on resource control where he canvassed a “leaner, smaller Federal Government.”
He also said the best approach to the problem and menace of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) currently crippling the economy through pipeline bombings is application of ‘carrot and stick.’
Atiku traced the history of cattle rustling in the North to errant herdsmen.
“In the past, there used to be Fulani herdsmen who would take cattle to the South for their parents but, when they get there, they got entangled with Southern youths, sold the cattle and used the money for womanising and drinking. They could not even bring back the money to their parents. They would now move back to Zamfara State and start cattle rustling. Every part of the country has its own perspective about cattle rustlers. In some parts, they have lived together for hundreds of years without problems.”
Atiku also said states that desire their own police should have them as only locals can effectively secure the people and not a security official who is a stranger to the community.
“I think the approach to the Niger Delta militant problem should be stick and carrots. But, let me correct an impression that during our administration, we prepared a masterplan for the development of the Niger Delta; we were ready to implement it but for the fact that political exigences diverted it at that time. During our administration, I advocated the privatisation of the NNPC at a press conference outside the country. When I came back, my boss then issued me a query. I was, however, surprised when he recently said he regretted not privatising the NNPC.”
In his reaction to recurring agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for self-rule, the former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), suggested a review of the federal system of government, reiterating his support for state police.
“Having established the ‘federal character’ of marginalisation in Nigeria, it is imperative that our response to the issues raised by our various ‘Biafras’ across the country is holistic.
On resource control, he said: “I have long advocated for greater autonomy, powers and resources for our federating states. Some have retorted that state governors will abuse those powers and resources. “Well, the same logic applies to the federal level, which, as recent revelations, is not without blemish. In fact, the current situation encourages governors to abuse their power, do little to raise revenue and point fingers at the federal government, thereby, making it more difficult for their people to hold them to account.
“First, we need a smaller, leaner federal government with reduced responsibilities. This means devolution of powers and resources to states and local governments. State and local governments should control education, health, agriculture, roads and other infrastructure. A true federal system will allow the federating states to keep their resources while the federal government retains the power of taxation and regulatory authority over standards.
“Second, autonomy for the component states and localities to determine their development priorities and wage structures. For instance, there is no reason for the governor of Akwa Ibom State to earn the same salary as the Governor of Benue State or for a teacher in Orlu to earn the same salary as the one in Abuja or Port Harcourt. The costs of living and revenue generating capacities vary widely across the country.
“Fourth, enhanced, diversified economic activities and productivity in order to enlarge the tax base. The US, U.K, Canada, Malaysia, and UAE are all oil producers. But, because they have diversified economies, oil does not dominate their government revenues and does not have the same distortionary effect it has on our own. Let’s compare Malaysia with Nigeria. Both countries were at a comparable level of development at independence, but now, Malaysia’s GDP per capita is $11,000, while Nigeria’s is $3,000. Malaysia has foreign reserves of $100 billion and a sovereign wealth fund of $41 billion.
“Think about this for a moment: If the bulk of the revenues of our federal and state governments are dependent on the level of economic activities in the country, would we be shutting down the entire country or a state on election days, on census days and during environmental clean-up? I wish some of our researchers would calculate the loss of productivity and incomes to individuals, families and the economy as a whole, and, therefore, potential government revenues?
“Fifth, an end to the indigene-settler dichotomy. A modern united Nigerian society can only be built on the basis of common citizenship for all based on residency in a state or locality rather than the local government or ethnic group one is born into.Nigerians should be free to live, study and work anywhere in the country as long as they are law-abiding.
“Sixth, state police to augment the federal police (for the states that so desire). This will help us to improve security, including fighting terrorism.
“Posting a police officer from Ganye to Eket may help promote culture sharing and integration, but, it does little to prevent or fight crime.
“Crime is better fought by those who know the terrain and speak the local language,” he argued.