With unfolding socio-political and economic upheavals Nigeria is experiencing, it could implode irredeemably any moment if machinery is not put in place to restructure the country, the Paramount Ruler-elect of Calabar South local government area of Cross River state and the Muri Munene-elect of Efut nation, HRM Maurice Okon Eyo 1, has said.
In an interview with our reporter in his palace in Calabar, weekend, the Royal father warned political leaders not to pretend as if all was well with the country.
He added: “To avoid implosion, it has become imperative that the country be restructured. Insecurity and all other things happening across the country are ominous signs that Nigeria is on the precipice.
“And what is restructuring? To me, it means true federalism and regionalism. The centre is too strong and too powerful. Let us go back and empower our regions or we empower the 36 states. I call it the United States of Nigeria. Either you create more states to add to the 36 or you allow it to remain the way it is, and then, the government should allow these states to be self sufficient so as to be able to determine their own destiny.
“If you are copying the United States of America federal system, let us practice exactly what the Americans are practicing. You cannot just pick a system and then select what you think suits you from it and dump the rest. In America, the states are very independent. A good percentage of power has to leave the centre because there is too much concentration of power there. The states must be able to control their resources and plan their future. This would give them an additional sense of belonging.”
On the role of the traditional institution, the monarch said it was a mistake to have completely rendered traditional rulers voiceless in the affairs of their domain, saying insecurity and other violent crimes could be controlled if traditional rulers are constitutionally empowered and given a voice.”
