ENUGU: Former Commonwealth Secretary General and elder statesman, Emeka Anyaoku,has once again sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s centralised governance structure, warning that without a shift to true federalism, the country risks eventual breakup.
Delivering a keynote speech at the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance held in Enugu on Tuesday, the 92-year-old statesman called for a new democratic constitution that reflects Nigeria’s ethnic and cultural diversity.
He argued that such a move is essential to prevent the country from suffering the same fate as other multi-ethnic nations that have collapsed due to unresolved internal divisions.
“Nigeria was more peaceful and developed faster during the first six years after independence when we had a truly federal constitution, Anyaoku said. “Back then, the four regions enjoyed autonomy over their development, social services, and internal security.”
He blamed Nigeria’s current unitary constitution for stalling national development and hindering effective governance, insisting that structural reform is no longer optional but imperative.
Countries that failed to embrace federalism to manage their diversity have disintegrated. Nigeria must not follow that path,” he cautioned.
Themed “The Imperative of Good Governance: Nigeria in a Global Comparative Perspective, the event featured several distinguished speakers who echoed Anyaoku’s call for constitutional restructuring.
Chairing the event, retired Major General and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ike Nwachukwu, criticised Nigeria’s centralised system as deeply flawed and outdated.
“I have long advocated for restructuring Nigeria into a proper federation,” Nwachukwu stated. “Granting states greater autonomy will bring governance closer to the people and allow them to manage their resources for development.”
He also emphasised the need for security and educational reforms. “We must establish state police and embrace community-based policing. Our education system needs an overhaul to produce the kind of human capital necessary for national development.”
In his address, former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, called for a bold reimagining of governance, beginning with structural transformation.
We must devolve power meaningfully to the people, he said. This includes reforming how leaders are selected, making the state a true guarantor of security and unity, and building a new consensus among the nation’s elite.
Welcoming participants, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah stressed the importance of practical leadership over political rhetoric.
Good governance is often the fine line between a nation on the rise and one in decline, Mbah noted. Good intentions are not enough; leadership must be people-centered to drive real development.
Organised by the International Youth Foundation the lecture series drew a large audience and reignited a national debate on Nigeria’s constitutional future.
The consensus among participants was clear: only a return to genuine federalism can secure the country’s unity and long-term progress.
