NIGERIA- POST MARCH 28

Like small government conservatives all over the World, I see the "Federal Government" as some sort of enemy. Very true in Nigeria.

The struggle for the center distracts us from weighty issues like 30% female literacy rates in some states or low vaccination coverage, which makes it pertinent for the establishment of a weak centre, independent judiciary, state police and lighter exclusive list etc. The centre is too powerful with this our system, and as they say, 'absolute power, corrupts absolutely '. The president is the lord almighty. It's sad that nobody is even talking about this

Corruption is not Nigeria's' problem, has never been and will never be. We need state governors to take advantage of our latent talents & enable us watch the dead hand Abuja finally shrivel - as spectators.

There is nothing for us (the common man) in Nigeria as presently structured. Nobody "benefits" from "Nigeria" except politicians and their children. But let me ask you this question. What system of govt did Nigeria practice at that time? The mineral resources were mostly used in their *regions*. In the original Naija plan, the oil in the Niger Delta is meant for the south south only. No argument.

The only problem is that since 1970, *Nigeria* only took from the *Niger Delta*, and never returned anything, and their lands are destroyed because of *Nigeria*. If you are the one, wont you be angry? In the original plan, all regions paid tax from their various sub national units, and most of the proceeds were not used to develop 'Nigeria', but their own regions. Wake up guys, the petro economy is not fair and is unsustainable. In the original plan, sub national units contributed to the 'national cake' and did not share their resource with Nigeria.

They only paid taxes. Their agitation is fair. No state in the north central or north east is using their economic resources. We only do crude farming, with no storage technology in sight. This is not supposed to be.

By the way, the original republic was not formed based on unity. Each regional leader was taxed with *developing his own region*. My only problem with first republican Nigeria was that the bigger tribes did not recognize the minority, hence the need for the creation of states.

The British made the amalgamation for purely economic reasons. It is time to upgrade. Oil will make Nigeria bleed, and the irony of it all is that it is that same oil that has kept us together till now. We have never been united. The old Northern region was the first to threaten secession and they almost succeeded, if not for the intervention of the British. Sometimes you have to weigh both sides as well.

Nigeria needs a new model.

 May we find joy in our endeavours.

 Peace.