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Sharia, Confederation, & National Conference |
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INTRODUCTION Following the recent Kaduna riots over the Sharia, some Nigerians are calling for confederation and others are calling for a national conference to address the Sharia issue. In this article, I will examine those two requests in line of the Sharia saga and other pertinent issues confronting Nigeria. WHAT TYPE OF GOVERNMENT? Man has experimented (and is still experimenting) with several kinds of governments. First, is a unitary government (with a powerful central government making all the laws that uniformly apply to all states irrespective of the differences among states). This government [e.g., the British system] is the most prevalent today, and it normally works better in homogenous countries. Second, is a confederal government – a direct opposite of the unitary. In such a system, the states are autonomous to make laws as they see fit within their boundaries, i.e., without much regard to national laws. Hence, states are powerful; national government is weak. This was the American system immediately following its independence from Britain [roughly from 1777 - 1789]. The only example of a confederal government today is United Nations, and we know how it operates.
Because this federalism does not operate [and perhaps never operated] as intended in Nigeria, and because of the recent Sharia saga, there is now a growing demand for a confederal government, with the ultimate power residing with the autonomous states. Although in a confederation such states as Kaduna, containing different people with differing religious denominations, can still pass preferential religious laws, as Sharia laws, some cases could still be made for a confederation. But let us examine the need for a National Conference (NC). THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL CONFERENCE I agree with those who have suggested that a National Conference (NC) should be constituted to address the Sharia case. But the NC will not stop at the Sharia question; there are other critical issues to be addressed at the conference in order to move Nigeria forward (because such issues are not, to my knowledge, being substantively addressed by our national government): 1. Inter-ethnic rivalries; the so-called tribalism No doubt, we know that the colonial masters divided us and mismatched us (without regard to differing languages, cultures and, may be, religions) for their personal gains. If we know that, my good people, why can’t we, as African people, with some education I must add, prove to them that we have a common denominator, Africanness, and that such common denominator is enough to overcome their misdeed and misrule? My point? We should genuinely unite ourselves, as Africans, for the purpose of moving Africa forward. In addition to the common denominator, we ought to know that individuals naturally differ (often due to their backgrounds, religions, philosophies, ethical standards of right and wrong), and therefore, it is the job of good leaders/elite of any polity to strike acceptable compromises among competing groups. For instance, such issues as marginalization and unequal representation ought to be resolved by common sense and simple consideration for others. In fact, we should be genuinely concerned that most African countries are retrogressing, and therefore do something concrete to retard that trend. But there is more for the NC. 2. Vicious Intra-ethnic conflicts/bigotry in Nigeria National Conference is needed to end the vicious hatred among people of the SAME ethnic group (with the same language and culture) in Nigeria. Consider the brutal, bloody fights between the Ijaws and Itsekiris, the Modekes and Ifes, Umuleri and Aguleri, etc. Consider the dubious crime of segregation/discrimination against those considered "osu" or "ime," within the same ethnic group with the same language and culture, and, to a large extent, the same religion. Notice that some "educated" ones [who ought to know better] equally subscribe to this unGodly rejection [of their own people] in spite of their level of education and the fact that their religion thought them that God created all of us equally. Absolutely, a NC (or may be Regional Conference) is needed to end this apartheid/bigotry. 3. The Monstrous Tradition: "Go back to your own state of origin" National Conference must also address this policy/tradition that forcefully sends civil servants (workers holding state jobs) packing to their so-called original states once new states are created IN INGERIA. For instance, when Enugu State was carved out of the original Anambra State in 1991, civil servants in both states, who were of the same ethnic group (Igbo), were forced to relocate to their home states of origin, meaning where they were born. What is the message of this kind of tradition/policy? The message here is quite clear: the civil servants who originated from Anambra State should only work in Anambra State and those of Enugu State origin should only work in Enugu State. [Notice that these two states (Enugu and Anambra) are made up of the people of the same ethnic group, namely Igbo, with the same language and culture.] Similarly, when Akwa Ibom was carved out of the former Cross River State, this policy/tradition of "go back to your own State of origin" was also implemented. This tradition/policy (of "go back to your own State of origin") has created some emotional appeal: it has instilled in citizens of say Anambra State and the citizens of Enugu State a new consciousness, a spirit of "we" and "them" and/or "we" versus "them" (in the same ethnic group), thereby exacerbating and complicating the ever-growing inter-ethnic rivalries in Nigeria. Worse still, this tradition/policy has not only uprooted them and treated them as outcasts in their own ethnic group, but has caused them mental agony and financial burden associated with forceful relocation to new environments. NC is overdue on this issue, but there is more. 4. The most deadly cancer destroying Nigeria/Africa: Inferiority complex National Conference must address, in the most ruthless fashion, inferiority complex. This acute and chronic cancer is so dangerously oppressing so many African leaders/elite to the point that they go as far as stealing from their own struggling mothers, their children, and their entire continent only to send the loot to those who not only enslaved them, exploited them, and still exploit them, but consider them less human, the "most corrupt thugs" in the world, and the originators of AIDS? This is too shameful to fathom, to the point that some individuals have started wondering whether all "animals" are created equal. This bizarre behavior (of self destruction) begs the biggest question of all time: How can one teach a man, a leader [with all sorts of titles, degrees and certificates] to love himself, his parents, his children and his people by investing his country’s resources in his own country or state, when animals – yes, even animals -- naturally understand the real meaning of this charity begins at home by feeding and protecting their own in the animal kingdom? To me, the most deadly, agonizing problem eating Nigeria/Africa alive is inferiority complex. This complex (which is directly tied to lack of true education), deserves a NC (or a Continental Summit] of its own to REARRANGE the minds and souls of so many African leaders whose thought processes are COMPLETELY destroyed by colonial mentality or mental slavery (in words of Bob Marley) or "white magic" (in words of Chukwudi Maduno, in his book, "White Magic"). Of course, there are other thorny issues to be addressed by the NC, e.g., the ever growing rate of bribery and corruption, and acute scarcity of fuel in a country ranked No. 6 in crude oil production. "Tufiakwa!" – God forbid bad thing! Unfortunately for Africa, most of its leaders and elite may NEVER tackle the REAL problems facing her because they love to scapegoat while milking the continent dry. CONCLUSION My good people, Unitary, Confederation, or Federation are all among differing political structures. Any nation, based on majority wishes can adopt any or a combination of them. But the ultimate, lasting solution to any society’s ill is TRUE education, the common sense. There are so many crises in Nigeria that TRUE education, the common sense, will solve once and for all or will prevent from happening in the first place. Just think about this one: How can TRULY educated leaders/elite come up with the idea of using a government entity (representing entire people of DIFFERING religious persuasions) to make laws in favor of one religion? To those in my camp, educated leaders ought to know (at least through their formal schooling) that there is something called "separation of church and state." True education informs one that government of a nation or state is (and should be) a secular entity, and therefore any law it passes in the area of religion must have a secular purpose or should be neutral in a sense that it should neither advance nor retard any religion. A leader with TRUE education will make sure that good policies are in place to unify the country [or at least his own community] and that those policies are enforced to the letter. A good leader will always try to make his country better than others; it is called, "charity begins at home." Specifically, a truly educated Nigerian leader will ensure that Nigeria develops like those countries some of our leaders send our money [without shame or second thought] while their own people are dying daily of malnutrition, diseases and hunger. A truly educated Nigerian leader will build high quality hospitals in Nigeria [knowing that Nigeria has the resources to build excellent hospitals in Nigeria] instead of flying thousands of miles away from Nigeria for a medical checkup. He will fight fair, making sure that the nation’s apple pie, the national cake, is distributed equitably in Nigeria, and that all segments are equally represented in the national [State] government. He must be fair; he has to be [because that is what good leadership is all about!] 
**Umez is a Prof. of American Government, at Lee College,
Baytown, Texas, and the author of, "Nigeria: Real Problems, Real
Solutions," (Feb. 2000). To obtain a copy, send $13 to Umez, Box
41, Baytown, Texas, 77522. |
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