Nigeria: The Solution Is Devolution Not Revolution

DR. ABUBAKAR ALKALI

Let’s face it; there cannot be a revolution in Nigeria without bloodshed so the alleged organisers of the so-called #RevolutionNow must have underestimated the potential consequences of their actions.

Indeed, any revolution in the context of the modus operandi of the #RevolutionNow movement will only lead to anarchy and unprecedented consequences. The solution therefore lies in DEVOLUTION of power to the young generation NOT revolution to anarchy.

Sadly, Nigeria is a hugely divided nation where there is so much ethnic/tribal/religious distrust that any such revolution could only destabilise national security.

Instead of going on a wild goose chase in the name of a revolution (which will not work anyway), the youths and young people in Nigeria should continue to work hard to capture power at the centre to enable them bring in new ideas and policies to reposition the country. Nigeria is ripe for generational shift from the old to the young in 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari.

The youths can capture power through non-violent democratic means using the ballot box as provided in the constitution if they work hard for it. They must earn it to get it because power is never given by taken.

The young generation has all the ingredients to capture power at the centre especially when juxtaposed with the fact that there is a groundswell of opinion amongst Nigerians that the status quo is not working. Indeed, Nigeria needs a paradigm shift from the old to the young generation come 2023.

It pays no one to assemble a group of vulnerable youths and push them into causing a breakdown of law and order. The so-called revolution will only give the enemies of Nigeria a blank cheque to cause further confusion in the system.

The agents of #RevolutionNow should be brought to justice even if to set a precedent and reestablish the fact that Nigeria is above any single individual or group interest. Clearly these agents of the so-called revolution are hiding under the toga of ‘revolution’ to achieve personal or sectional interests. The same group had proposed secession of Nigeria but didn’t get it. They changed their tune to ‘restructuring’ they didn’t get that as well. Now they are moving straight to a revolution.

Of course there is a clear difference between a demonstration and a revolution. The 1999 constitution (as altered) allows non-violent demonstration and peaceful assembly under section 40 which states inter alia that ‘every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests. Section 39 of the same constitution also established the right of every person to freedom of expression and to hold opinions.

However, the laws of the land have set limits to the freedoms and rights of every citizen. For a call to anarchy in the name of a revolution, there certainly are limits. Revolution is war and there are limits to this as clearly spelt out in part 2, chapter 6 section 37 (1) of the criminal code act which stipulates a death penalty for any person convicted of treason. This relevant section states that ‘any person who levied war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the President or governor of a state is guilty of treason and liable to the punishment of death.  The criminal code act has prohibited violent revolution which is a treasonable offence.

Albeit ,only the Nigerian judicial system through the courts can decide whether the RevolutionNow sponsors had committed treason or not. However, clearly the actions of the sponsors of RevolutionNow will potentially lead to war and no government worth its name can stand aloof and wait until war breaks out.

It is noteworthy that majority of Nigerians have rejected the so-called revolution. Majority of informed youths and young people in this country have rejected the call to violence by this faceless group called #RevolutionNow.

It is commendable that Nigerians stayed away from the call to anarchy by the RevolutionNow movement.

Clearly, a key motive of the RevolutionNow movement is to dislodge government through other means different from constitutionality. This effectively qualifies the RevolutionNow movement as a coup de tat in disguise.

Section 41 of the criminal code act stipulates life imprisonment as penalty for anyone plotting to remove the President other than by constitutional means. This relevant section of the criminal code act states that ‘any person who forms an intention to remove the President during his term of office other than by constitutional means is liable to life imprisonment.

Any elected leader who swore to defend the constitution has a moral obligation under the law to do so. A leader cannot swear to defend the constitution on one hand and chastise the constitution on the other. For  example, section 214 (1) of the constitution stipulates that there shall be a Nigerian Police force but some elected leaders who swore to protect and defend the constitution are calling for state police. This is clearly an unconstitutional call. At best these leaders can call or even sponsor a constitutional amendment but not make a call for state police which is clearly against Nigeria’s constitution.

The call for restructuring and state police cannot stand the test of time unless the constitution is amended. The constitution in section 3(1) says 36 states and the FCT hence the country cannot go back to regions unless the constitution is amended. The possibilities for the country to go back to the 1963 constitution or regions are currently nonexistent.

Nigeria cannot go back to the 1963 constitution. The country cannot go back to regions because that is a prelude to disintegration.

Without doubt, Nigeria has an excellent captain in President Muhammadu Buhari who is a very decent, sincere and disciplined leader. Mr. President is not interested in taking that which doesn’t belong to him and has demonstrated beyond any iota of doubt that he is a reformed democrat and committed to Nigeria. He is passionate about fixing the enormous challenges facing our dear country. Many argue though that people around Mr. President have not been able to compliment his efforts in building the prosperous Nigeria of our dreams but Mr. President is certainly on course to taking Nigeria to the next level of prosperity.

Without further doubts, our dear country needs urgent economic and constitutional reforms. Economic reforms are needed to create wealth and backed up by constitutional reforms to ensure a fair distribution of the wealth of the nation to every citizen not just those in government. Clearly, any reforms cannot be achieved by a revolution with its attendant violence but by constitutional means through a sublime democratic process.

The current imbalance in the design of Nigeria cannot achieve development, security and stability. However, these imbalances can only be achieved through a deliberate, systematic and gradual policy formulation and implementation. Reforms mature over time.

The country needs reforms to eradicate poverty or at least bring it down to the barest minimum. There is certainly a link between the current state of insecurity and poverty.

The imbalances in Nigeria are too numerous to mention in one piece. For example, there is no justification in paying a senator N40 million per month but leaving his constituents with empty stomach and with no hospital or roads in their domain.

In some parts of Nigeria, pregnant women are transported on wheelbarrows to long distance just to receive ante-natal care because there are no hospitals in their domain.

This country is awash with resources for wealth creation but there is the need to exploit this wealth and create jobs for unemployed Nigerians particularly the youths.

The rate of unemployment in Nigeria is at an all – time high of 38%. This is a time – bomb (permit the word) which needs to be defused urgently. Thousands of youths graduate from the universities and join their unemployed colleagues on the streets without jobs. One day they will ask questions.

The government is doing something to create jobs and spread wealth through the N-power, SIP and other programmes but more needs to be done to create jobs for the youths. Skill acquisition centres in the 774 LGAs in Nigeria will go a long way in imparting the right skills in our youths and potentially enable them set up their own businesses.

Revenue is concentrated so much at the centre with the federal government taking 51% (which is way too much). The revenue sharing formula should be reviewed to take more revenue to the grassroots local government areas and ward levels where majority of the people live. More revenue to local government areas from the federation account will also reduce the flaming rural-urban migration.

With all its enormous resources, our dear country has no emergency ambulance service. This is not sustainable. Our country needs emergency ambulance services to provide first aid and other medical services to the poor and those who need it. Nigeria needs trained paramedics to provide first aid treatment to victims when necessary. If the country can afford the fire fighting brigade to protect property from fire, it should also afford free medical ambulance to protect and treat human beings on emergency before they are taken to the hospitals. In this regard, the country should have an emergency toll-free line such as 911 through which the victims on emergency can call for ambulance from their homes even during wee hours of the night.

Our country is already facing very serious security challenges. The Federal government under President Buhari is doing its best to curtail these challenges and bring enduring peace and tranquility to the land. All Nigerians should support the Buhari administration in the efforts to build a virile and strong NIGERIA that we can all be proud of.

Nigeria simply can’t afford another cycle of violence with threats of terrorism in the North East, banditry in the North West and North central, armed secession in the South East, obnoxious propaganda in the South West and violent oil nationalism in the South-South.

Of course the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria has given every Nigerian the unalienable right to freedom of expression, speech and association. However, this right and indeed all rights as guaranteed in the constitution, come with a responsibility. No government worth its name will stand aloof and watch a group of individuals pose threat to the country’s national security in the name of ‘revolution.

Clearly, the organisers of the so-called revolution have not done their homework properly. They chose to put the cart before the horse by moving straight to revolution before mobilising and seeking the consent of Nigerians.

The organisers of RevolutionNow also wrongly assumed that the scenario in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya etc where citizens staged sit-ins and eventually forced out their governments can work in Nigeria.   The Egyptian scenario cannot work in Nigeria. The fact is that Nigeria is so much divided that one cannot expect such scenarios to succeed here. Nigeria’s ethnic divide is so glaring that any policies/actions supported by the North will almost automatically be opposed by the South and vice Versa. Under these circumstances, how could anyone think that they can mobilise enough support across all sections of the country to stage a revolution?

The fact of the matter is that there are certain forces in this country hell-bent on breaking this country up. They will not have their way God willing. These forces are the same people who used the youths to win elections before 2015. They have now lost out and want to use the youths to invite a military takeover or even break up the country.

Nigerian youths must remain vigilant and alert. Nigeria will not go back to Egypt. Our democracy will continue to grow. All that we need is to remain steadfast, resilient, resolute and committed to our country.

Nigeria is potentially a great country by all measures but being great doesn’t stop at word of mouth. Nigeria has to earn its greatness through wealth creation, job creation, security, infrastructural development and spread of economic opportunities to all.

The youths can bring in new ideas in this digital era to develop Nigeria and enable the country take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Nigeria needs a digital President after President Buhari in 2023. Indeed, Nigeria is ripe for a young President after President Buhari in 2023.

The youths and young people in Nigeria are not too young to run anymore. They are not only ready to run but ready to take over from President Buhari after his tenure in 2023 and move the country to another level.

Dr. Abubakar Alkali (Former APC Presidential aspirant) 

alkalizai@yahoo.com