The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has insisted that Nigeria cannot go far without true federalism.
According to the monarch, only a true federal system of government could save Nigeria from its present socio-political problems.
He spoke on Tuesday at the public presentation of the book titled: ‘Cowries of Blood: Essays on Herdsmen, Banditry and Nigeria’s Endgame Politics’ written by columnist and Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju.
The book is a compilation of some of the articles of his weekly column, Monday Lines, in the Nigerian Tribune.
The Alaafin traced Nigeria’s problem to Decree 34 that abolished regional government in a federal republic of Nigeria and lamented that the January 1966 coup and the counter-coup six months later, complicated the issues in the country.
He recalled Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s constant preaching of the need for the nation to run a true federal system of government.
For the various ideals of Chief Awolowo, the Alaafin said it would take 100 years to have a person like him.
The Alaafin said: “Are we happy with the Nigeria of today? Where are we going in this country? If we continue with the way we are going at the moment, then we cannot achieve anything.
“We should return to true federalism; we can’t enjoy the plans our forebears have for us if we don’t return to true federalism.”
The Alaafin continued: “In the political firmament of this nation, it may take 100 years to have a person like Obafemi Awolowo. He said where a nation is composed of different tribes and different religions, the best constitution will be a federal system of government. All leaders, when they assume power, are captivated by the use of that power and they do not know what they are doing.”
He said Nigeria needs true leaders in the mold of German Otto von Bismarck, noting that many people that know the truth in the country today but are afraid of speaking to power.
In his review of the book titled, “There is a Place Called Hell,” Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin said some intriguing questions are raised in Cowries of Blood about the effectiveness of leadership in the country, taking into account the perennial collapse of its security infrastructure.
Professor Falola, who was represented by Mrs. Dupe Olubanjo, said: “After observing how far apart the political leaders and citizens are on the issue of nation-building, the sheer insincerity of the political class and the haplessness of the ordinary Nigerians become quite glaring.
“The leaders are competent pretenders, and with their helpless victims of concocted and new-fangled narratives, the wreckage of the country has continued in surprising proportions. “Everyone is aware that Nigeria is circumscribed in security dysfunctionality.”
Nigeria’s security architecture is infiltrated by people whose nationalist loyalty is divided by their conviction that the country does not serve their ethnic or class interests. Their plan to cause havoc in the country is motivated by the awareness that Nigeria’s political system is too weak to fight back.
The second review was done by a performance poet and art enthusiast, Mr. Akeem Lasisi, where he dissected each of the articles in the book while revealing that the author used his column, Monday Lines, to express frustration at some policies of the government, and even applaud where necessary.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Olagunju revealed that the book was just a compilation of articles in his Monday Lines column, which he started writing in 2011.
He appreciated the support of the chairman of African Newspapers Nigeria Plc, Dr Tokunbo AwolowoDosunmu, who wrote the Introduction, as well as the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, who wrote the Foreword before he passed on two months after.
A former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in his remarks, said he was fortunate to have Olagunju by his side during his tenure as governor “because he taught me how to navigate the media landmines. Olagunju was Oyinlola’s Chief Press Secretary when he was governor in Osun State.
“There was no time I had a one-on-one discussion with him that I didn’t tell him to compile his articles in book form.
“He is a great man and one of those I continue to associate with even after I left office till date,” Oyinlola said. Personalities at the book presentation Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin; governors’ representatives: Secretary to the Osun State government, Mr. Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff to the Oyo State governor, Mr. Segun Ogunwuyi; Ondo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Femi Agagu; Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Waheed Odusile; and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso.