Chief Emeka Anyaoku
Erstwhile Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, yesterday stated that those predicting the disintegration of Nigeria in 2015 would be disappointed.
Anyaoku told Vanguard, yesterday, in Lagos, shortly after the presentation of a book, Footprints of An Iconic Diplomat, a pictorial biography, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.
According to him, the way forward for the country is to revert to a federation of six units to firmly hold onto the unity of the country, reduce the cost of governance, boost socio-economic growth and eliminate destructive competition for power at the centre, which he said gives rise to ethno-religious crises.
His words, “I don’t think this country will disintegrate. “I think this country will find the wisdom to adopt what I have suggested in terms of structure of governance and once that is done, the country will thrive.”
On why he didn’t join politics, he said, “When I returned to Nigeria, I decided to make available to the country’s leadership my experience in an advisory capacity pro bono (without charge).
“I decided against joining politics in our country because the nature of our politics is not that which I will feel very comfortable in.”
“We have hope, provided we do certain things.
“I have said that the current structure of governance in the country is not serving us well. In my view, this country should return to true federalism so we can achieve two things.
Continuing, he said, “First, we can reduce drastically the enormous cost of administration with the existing structure of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Secondly, we can reduce or, in fact, eliminate the destructive and destabilizing competition for the control of the all powerful centre because it is that competition that fans the flames of religion and tribal differences in the country.
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