By Odunayo Agboluaje, Ibadan
A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi; a statesman and Southwest Chairman of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria {BON}, Deacon Owolabi Oladejo and a former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Prof. Gbade Ojo, on Monday called on President Bola Tinubu to work towards amending the Constitution in line with Rotational Presidency of Switzerland for Nigeria to achieve a rebirth.
They made the call during the third Distinguished Eminent Personality lecture organized by the Political Science and International Relations Programmes, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State. The lecture had the theme: ‘Imperative of Nigeria’s Rebirth: A Pathway to Peace and Progress’.
Two previous speakers in lecture series were late Governor Abiola Ajimobi (of Oyo State) and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (of Ondo State).
The year’s distinguished lecturer, Deacon Oladejo, a nationalist, Fellow Chartered accountant and businessman, argued that the Swiss rotational system of government would be the best for the country. He therefore called on President Bola Tinubu to work towards the amendment and establish a national rebirth commission to properly restructure this country.
The chairman of Impact Group of Media, after taking a look at what obtains in some countries that have similar challenges like Nigeria, particularly in language and ethnicity, prescribed what he considered as steps to be taken to have a Nigeria that can work.
He explained this in the following manner: Nigeria should now be branded as United Regions of Nigeria (URN). To achieve this, the federal government should set up the National Rebirth Commission (NRC). This should also be replicated at the state level. The latter is to be known as State Rebirth Commission (SRC). This is with of re-establishing autonomous regional structure as obtained in the 1959 (Independence) constitution “only that the regions now should be increased to six”.
‘’The sum total of this is that the nation will now consist of autonomous, self-governing regions with rotational leadership at its centre with the following governance structures:
(a) Central Parliament, (b) Central executive Council (CEC), (c) Central Council of Elders (CCE) and (d) National Council of States (NCS).
‘’Functions to be performed by each of these councils are identified. Besides the states, provinces and mayoralities were also advocated. Meaning that there should be National Government, Regional Governments, State Governments (that will form Regional Governments), Provincial Governments (that will be formed by those from the Districts), District/Mayorality Governments (to be made up of people from the Wards in the given area).
‘’To operationalize the above in a manner that will eschew acrimony, it was submitted that national elections would no longer be elected to get the head of governments. Heads of Regions would form the National Council. One of them would become the Head of Government while another person from another Region would be his deputy. He would spend two years and hand over to his deputy. Another person from another region would become the deputy. He too would spend two years. This is how the headship would move from one region to another as is being done in Switzerland. You may call it Rotational Presidency. Elections would be within the Regions. Such arrangement would be replicated at the Regional, State, Provincial and District levels’’.
On his part, Dr.Farounbi was the chairman of the occasion, threw his weight behind Oladejo, saying: ‘’Beginning from Abacha Constitution conference, the need to make political power equitably accessible for all parts of the country was recognised. In that Constitution that was never promulgated, tha six geopolitical zones were created. It was agreed that for Nigeria to continue to coexist as an entity, all parts of the country must have equal opportunities’’.
Prof. Ojo of University of Ilorin, who is on sabbatical at Bowen University, said: ‘’The proposal is in line with Abacha Constitution. Abacha floated the idea of rational presidency. And it is in line with what is operating in Switzerland. So, Nigeria, being a deeply divided and plural society, the proposal is good for national integration if we can give it a trial.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, also expressed his support for the submissions of the personalities, saying the university is open to ideas.
Prof. Lere Amusan lauded the personalities for their thoughts and insights.
Other dignitaries on the occasion included Engineer Lai Gboluaje, Barrister Olu Abiala, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Mr. Sanjo Akanmu, Mr. Amusa Adebisi, Prince Layi Ayoola and Mr. Ademola Ayeyemi.
Others were Ms Precious Adejumoke Obatunyise, Mr. Bayo Dotun, Dr. Lateef Aremu, Pastor Asonibare, Mr. Ayobami Fakeye, Mr. Oluwole Ige, Mr. Oluwaseye Ojo and Comrade Rotimi Agboluaje, among others.