Nigeria is sitting on gun powder
- The first African President of the International Geographical
Union, Professor Akin Mabogunje had declared that Nigeria is
sitting on gun powder
- He said that the resemblance of what led to the first military
coup on January 15th, 1966 is now manifesting
- Prof Mabogunje, however noted that true federalism is the only
solution to Nigeria’s problems
The first African President of the International Geographical Union,
Professor Akin Mabogunje, has declared that the present political
situation in the country occasioned by the agitations from various
quarters for restructuring or secession is no doubt a resemblance
of what led to the first military coup on January 15th, 1966.
NAIJ.com gathered that Mabogunje who was the first African to
be elected as a Foreign Associate of the United States National
Academy of Sciences, however, lamented that despite various
reforms, policies and amendments by successive governments
including the military to get the country on track, all the factors
both remote and immediate causes that led to the collapsed of
the first republic have again surfaced and manifesting.
He spoke in Ibadan on Saturday June 10 at the first Seminal
Series 2017 of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy
(ISGPP) under the theme “Prebendalism and the Nigerian Project:
Reflections of Democracy and Development since 2015”.
He said: “I think the people should start thinking on how we can
come out of this quagmire, because it is like that of 1966 when
people are thinking of how to get out of the Nigeria project”.
Mabogunje who is also the Chairman, ISGPP Governing Board
while speaking with journalists, suggested a true federalism
characterised by justice, equity and fairness.
He said: “Our political leaders negotiated the terms of our being
together and it was also fiscal, that was when they decided that if
any mineral was discovered in any region, the region takes 50
percent of the royalty, 30 percent was put to what was called a
distributable poll share across the country to even development
and only 20 percent was to the federal and the federal in those
days have specify functions.
“When they decided in 1969 to pass the petroleum decree which
take all the royalty from oil to the federal, they then started all
these rascalities wanting to pay state, for local government and
that is where we are still are.
“And that what change our federalism from being a true
federalism to really a unitary federalism because state
government became lazy.
“As I said Awolowo government really taxed us, they taxed
petroleum, entertainment to raise money for free primary
education and it raised the capitation tax from 6 pens to 10 and
six and there were riot in some areas, now all of that, no
government is telling us what they want to do and why we should
pay tax and as long as we are not paying tax, then we are not
citizen and it is when citizens pay tax that they can ask their
government what it has done with the tax”.
“We are now depending on oil and it is awoof, there is no citizen
in Nigeria, just free money and they can steal it”.
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Speaking on why he is joining the league of eminent Nigerians
that are calling for true federalism, Mabogunje said: “Absolutely,
because if the people in Rivers, to construct a kilometre of road
is about six times, so if they do so 50 percent, they will improve
their area, but as long as we are giving them, they too are
stealing, so everybody is stealing because if is awoof money”.
“Somebody used the world injustice, as long as there is quota
system, federal character and these are injustice.
“If a child can take an exam from Ogun State and scored 280
and you say that they should take a child from Nassarawa who
scored 180, that is not even helping him because he is not been
made to strive, so what we are having in Nigeria is a government
being run ny the 3rd eleven where in fact a good country is run
by its 1st eleven. Yes and everybody is concerned on how the
country should go”.
Union, Professor Akin Mabogunje had declared that Nigeria is
sitting on gun powder
- He said that the resemblance of what led to the first military
coup on January 15th, 1966 is now manifesting
- Prof Mabogunje, however noted that true federalism is the only
solution to Nigeria’s problems
The first African President of the International Geographical Union,
Professor Akin Mabogunje, has declared that the present political
situation in the country occasioned by the agitations from various
quarters for restructuring or secession is no doubt a resemblance
of what led to the first military coup on January 15th, 1966.
NAIJ.com gathered that Mabogunje who was the first African to
be elected as a Foreign Associate of the United States National
Academy of Sciences, however, lamented that despite various
reforms, policies and amendments by successive governments
including the military to get the country on track, all the factors
both remote and immediate causes that led to the collapsed of
the first republic have again surfaced and manifesting.
He spoke in Ibadan on Saturday June 10 at the first Seminal
Series 2017 of Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy
(ISGPP) under the theme “Prebendalism and the Nigerian Project:
Reflections of Democracy and Development since 2015”.
He said: “I think the people should start thinking on how we can
come out of this quagmire, because it is like that of 1966 when
people are thinking of how to get out of the Nigeria project”.
Mabogunje who is also the Chairman, ISGPP Governing Board
while speaking with journalists, suggested a true federalism
characterised by justice, equity and fairness.
He said: “Our political leaders negotiated the terms of our being
together and it was also fiscal, that was when they decided that if
any mineral was discovered in any region, the region takes 50
percent of the royalty, 30 percent was put to what was called a
distributable poll share across the country to even development
and only 20 percent was to the federal and the federal in those
days have specify functions.
“When they decided in 1969 to pass the petroleum decree which
take all the royalty from oil to the federal, they then started all
these rascalities wanting to pay state, for local government and
that is where we are still are.
“And that what change our federalism from being a true
federalism to really a unitary federalism because state
government became lazy.
“As I said Awolowo government really taxed us, they taxed
petroleum, entertainment to raise money for free primary
education and it raised the capitation tax from 6 pens to 10 and
six and there were riot in some areas, now all of that, no
government is telling us what they want to do and why we should
pay tax and as long as we are not paying tax, then we are not
citizen and it is when citizens pay tax that they can ask their
government what it has done with the tax”.
“We are now depending on oil and it is awoof, there is no citizen
in Nigeria, just free money and they can steal it”.
PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigeria’s #1 new app
Speaking on why he is joining the league of eminent Nigerians
that are calling for true federalism, Mabogunje said: “Absolutely,
because if the people in Rivers, to construct a kilometre of road
is about six times, so if they do so 50 percent, they will improve
their area, but as long as we are giving them, they too are
stealing, so everybody is stealing because if is awoof money”.
“Somebody used the world injustice, as long as there is quota
system, federal character and these are injustice.
“If a child can take an exam from Ogun State and scored 280
and you say that they should take a child from Nassarawa who
scored 180, that is not even helping him because he is not been
made to strive, so what we are having in Nigeria is a government
being run ny the 3rd eleven where in fact a good country is run
by its 1st eleven. Yes and everybody is concerned on how the
country should go”.
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