According to Tunde Adeleye, a former archbishop of the Calabar Anglican Diocese, Nigeria’s sociopolitical mess would continue unless the country embraces true federalism.
Adeleye maintained that all sub-nationals should have complete autonomy so they can operate independently of the national government.
He responded to Rt. Rev. Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi of the Anglican Diocese of Ika, who delivered a lecture yesterday evening on the subject of “Recovering Nigeria Through Transformal Leadership,” in his speech.
Adeleye retired two years ago, and the Anglican Church in Calabar arranged his 2nd Birthday Colloquium in his honor.
“The biggest issue Nigeria is facing is the disdain for true federalism,” stated Adeleye. The nation ought to embrace the purest version of federalism, not the one currently in use. Each federating unit should have its own police, independent parliament, legal system, school system, control of its resources, etc.
“We should not be waiting for the centre to direct on every basic issues whi h the subnational cannswiftly execute
“It shouldn’t be compulsory to have schools have the same system. It’s not workable to have people from the South or West posted to the north to do police duties when they’re not familiar with the locals or nooks and crannies.
“Without proper federalism we are deceiving ourselves.”
The Anglican leader said Nigeria is not practicing the so called presidential system of government copied from the United States of America, USA.
Ekpenisi, who presented the lead paper said, “The cry for mighty men with transformational leadership is a call to reawaken the young Nigerians to the norms, value and imperative realities.
“Let Nigerians set their priorities right and do everything possible to maintain the legacies which have been laid down for us. If this is done faithful men shall be raised that will represent us in the political spectrum of our country.”
