PREAMBLE:
It is good to start this submission by first saluting the courage of His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) for harkening to the calls of the greater population of Nigeria who had already acknowledged the essence of charting a real course beginning with a round table talk amongst the diverse components of this great Nation State, Nigeria.
This is not mindful of the obvious flaws in the proposed limitations placed on this confab that raised much doubts in the public discourse as to the sincerity of this project.
However, the terms of reference for this conference will be baseless if it excludes the review of the 1914 amalgamation charter. In view of this and with the cognizance of the precarious situation of security, discernible inequities/structural imbalance, and incessant out-pouring of ululation against marginalization, oppression, deprivation and despoliation in this country, it is my humble submission that the up-coming conference irrespective of no-go- areas and the subjugation of its report to the final scrutiny by the present leprous national assembly revisit these vital areas of great constitutional relevance as follows:-
1. POLITICAL STRUCTURE: The abrogation of the present thirty six (36) states structure and substitution of same with a con-federal structure based on the extant six Geo-political zones.
2. REVENUE AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION: The issue of revenue and recourse allocation is repudiated as an aberration and the economic and technological development albatross. We should re-orient a socio- political-economic structure powered by revenue generation and resource contribution motivation in lieu of the outlandish resource allocation and revenue allocation, which is quite anti-climatic.
3. SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT: On the system of government, the present brand of Presidential and Representative Democratic System is quite prohibitive, inept and ineffective in every wise. It is Germaine that a parliamentary democracy that will produce six (6) premiers in the six Geo-Political Zones with one national Prime Minister for the administrative head of National government that will be politically headed by a President with full executive powers.
4. ELECTORAL MATTERS: This is another area that should be reviewed to restore the fast waning confidence of electorates by creating generic election umpire with independence to oversee all the matters of national elections on the exclusive list.
5. JUDICIARY: The Judiciary should be re-organize enhance speedy dispensation of justice and liberate arm of government from its present subjection to exe manipulations.
6. ARMED FORCES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT: The issue of security should be on the exclusive list as the pa foundation of governance. But, the policing of the nation should be reviewed to make provisions for regional and county policies to synchronize with the proposed structure in the foregoing entails.
7. IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND PRISONS: These vital adjuncts of the law enforcement and security should be customized to provide for a sort of two chamber arrangement under a concurrent list such that the regions will have their separate commands to handle regional matters.
8. LEGISLATION: It is imperative to jettison the expensive bicameral type of legislation in operation and consider a modified unicameral system at the three tiers of government (National, Regional, Counties).
9. RELIGION: Our security is sacrosanct. Religion is a matter of conscience and the opium of life, so nobody should inveigle the other into any religious or denominational belief.
RESOURCE CONTROL: Under this proposed structural arrangement, each geo-political zonal government should control whatever natural, resources (including, water, solid minerals, and crude oil) from and within their geo-political precincts.
PERSONAL SUBMISSION AT THE SUB-REGIONAL ZONE DELIBERATION I PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2014 NATIONAL CONFERENCE HOLDING AT UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE
