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TAYO OLANIPEKUN
An American scholar has urged Nigerians to always keep in mind that they live in a society with diversity as the discussion for restructure of the system continues to resurface in the national life.
Professor of Political Science, Northwestern University, Illinois, Richard Joseph, who gave the admonition on Friday during a lecture at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), also said members of the public should ensure they “reduce the temperature and avoid sensationalizing issues” while debating national issues.
This,he said, became necessary because the nation, with its importance on the continent and in the world, is going through a lot of issues at the moment and it there should be some restraints.
He also noteded that this is the first time the nation is under a democratic rule for a longer period by far since 1999, which he said was commendable and should be cherised.
While delivering the lecture titled, Are Changes in the Federal Structure of Nigeria Required for Better Governance, Professor Joseph said it was noteworthy that Nigeria is plunged into the debate about restructuring and this calls for calm and reason because many nations look up to Nigeria.
The scholar who made several references to many Nigerian scholars, including the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who have at different fora led discussions on the diversity of Nigeria, added that the discussions have always pointed in the direction of a conglomerate governance. This he described as “a number of different things or part that puts a thing together to become an entity.”
According to Professor Joseph, who in 1987 authored the book, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria, “Scholars described Nigeria as a conglomerate society resting on pluralism. Thinking associated with a plural society has always surfaced in Nigeria. Proponents of true federalism say regionalism will accomplish more. However, confederation and regionalism practiced in the past were conducted by the military and most restructure in Nigeria also took place under the military.
“People should rather focus on how to reconfigure. Conglomerate governance is pertinent to the debate going on in Nigeria now. I even surprised myself thinking and walking through the idea of conglomerate governance without even knowing it in 1999.
“The essence of national unity in Nigeria remains the effective participation of mobilized sectional constituencies based on language, region, culture, religion in the sharing of governmental power and resources through recognized intermediary. It is unity based more on participation for public good based on identity,” said Joseph who was a visiting Fulbright professor at the University of Ibadan in 1978-79.
He, therefore, submitted that the country will not disintegrate as suggested by some intelligence report some years back, despite the issues it has to grapple with.
“Nigeria is not going to break up. The position on the break up was not that of the U.S.As you know, most countries have many bodies conducting intelligence and they usually come forward with their positions,” the scholar declared.
The lecture was organized by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Consulate General in collaboration with UNILAG.
