Suitable Constitution

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

It can also produce at all times, from among its own citizens, the small number of administrative personnel required for the efficient running of its affairs. The Head of Government does not need a car to tour his domain; consequently none will be bought. He, together with the members of his Parliament, does not have to devote much more time to the affairs of his domain than the Chairman and members of Ikenne Town Council are expected to do.

Consequently, only a slight increase in the sitting allowances paid to the Chairman and other members of Ikenne Local Council is required to remunerate them for their efforts. The State Assembly will combine the functions normally performed by Local Government Councils with its constitutional functions, thus eliminating the duplication of the deliberative and legislative organ.

Since it will get its own full share of the country’s revenue, since it wiII not be expected to pay precepts to another body as the Ikenne Local Council now does, and since the people will continue to pay such taxes and rates as may from time to time be ievied, the Ikenne State will have enough financial resources for launching and executing such programmes as its citizens demand and deserve.

With great respect, it must be emphasised quite candidly that the 41 minor national groups already mentioned are not, for the present, in the happy position of being able to produce, from among their respective citizens, self-sustaining pools of political leadership and competent administrative personnel. Just as the viability of an Ikenne State would be seriously endangered if it were to employ expatriates, so would that of any of the minor linguistic groups be gravely jeopardized if they had to look outside their borders for efficient administrative staff.

On the other hand, however, we are perfectly satisfied that by judicious grouping, a number of minor national groups can supply the administrative personnel required from among their nationals, or failing that, they can, by reason of their combination, financially afford to employ outsiders for administrative purposes, until enough persons from among their nationals are trained to take the place of such outsiders.

In contrast, it is our considered view that each of the ten major national groups is viable. Each of them can either provide internally the administrative personnel it requires, or attract proficient outsiders to its service until such time as its own nationals are sufficiently qualified.

If we accept the foregoing arguments, ten constituent States, embracing the ten major national groups, with a population of 45 million, emerge as follows:

(1) Kano, Sokoto, and Katsina Provinces, plus the Northern part of Zaria Province including Kaduna Capital Territory, and Bedde Division. Population – 13.6 million. (Hausa/Fulani National Group.)

(2) Ibadan, Ondo, Oyo, Abeokuta, Ijebu, and Colony Provinces, together with IIorin, Kabba, and Warri Divisions, plus Akoko Edo District Council Area. Population – 13 million. (Yoruba National Group.)

(NOTE: This will be slightly affected by the proposals which we are making later in respect of Lagos.)

(3) Old Onitsha and Owerri Provinces, together with Abakaliki and Afikpo Divisions of the Old Ogoja Province, plus the Old Aboh and Asaba Divisions, and the Aro Ibo County Council Area. Population – 7.8 million. (Ibo National Group.)

(4) Old Calabar Province minus Aro Ibo County Council Area. Population – 3.2 million. (EfiklIbibio/Annang National Group.)

(5) Bomu, and Dikwa Divisions. Population – 2.2 million. (Kanuri National Group.)

(6) Tiv and Wukari Divisions. Population -1.5 million. (Tiv National Group.)

(7) Old Brass, Degema, and Western ljaw Divisions, Populatiori – 0.9 million. (Ijaw National Group.)

(8) Old Benin and Ishan Divisions, plus Menmai Division excluding Akoko Edo District Council Area. Population – 0.9 million. (Edo National Group.)

(9) Old Urhobo Division. Population -0.6 million. (Urhobo National Group.)

(10) Bida, Kwara, and Lafiagi-Pategi Divisions. Population- 0.6 million. (Nupe National Group.)

After all this has been done, we are left with about 11 million Nigerians, spread over 41 linguistic groups, who have to be organised into constituent states.

In tackling this problem the following important factors must be borne in mind.

ONE: In doing the grouping exercise, we must not make the mistake of bringing any of the minor linguistic groups into the same constituent State as any of the major ones. Vis-a-vis the majority national groups, the minority nations have fears – real or imaginary – which can only be allayed by making it possible for the latter to live apart from the former in separate States.

In this connection, we must remember that countries like the U.S.S.R., Yugoslavia, and Britain, which recognise minorities, and make suitable constitutional arrangements to allay their fears, are reasonably free from the political troubles which usually emanate from this source. But countries like Iraq and Ceylon which have tried to ignore the existence of minority linguistic groups have been incessantly plagued with violence involving considerable loss of lives and property.

TWO: Though it sounds superfluous, the point must be made that all the national groups being brought together must be territorially contiguous. Contiguity is used here in contrast to the Pakistani model wherein two parts of the same State are separated from each other by a vast expanse of alien territory. This must not be permitted in this exercise.

CONTINUES NEXT WEEK

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