In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful By Imam Luqman AbdurRaheem

DEMOCACY DAY, NEED FOR TRUE FEDERALISM IN NIGERIA: THE GUJARAT MODEL AND EXPERIENCE
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the universe. May His peace and blessings be upon the noble Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), his faithful companions and dutiful followers till the end of time, amin. Come tomorrow, May 29, 2012, Nigeria or Nigerians or both will be marking another fabricated Democracy Day, an assertion that is factual and requires no polemical debate. If we require true Democracy Day in Nigeria, there are landmark dates from which the policymakers can pick from, definitely not May 29, 2012. In Nigeria, anything goes. Let us leave it at that. As we celebrate or mark, whichever is applicable, the imposed Democracy Day there is need for sober reflection on the type of nation we want and type of governance system. That is the message that this article intends to disseminate. What is Nigeria, to start with? Nigeria can best be described as a nation blessed with flora and fauna or in scriptural parlance, abundance of milk and honey, which if well harnessed by creative and visionary leaders would make the country one of the biggest five economies within the next decade. The inability of successive and present leadership to lift the nation beyond the precarious state of insecurity, where the polity stinks leaves room for serious concern. Despite the numerous resources we are endowed with, we cannot rival our colleague that we started the journey of nationhood together; the cause of this endless journey of no destination has been attributed to myriads of reasons. The core reason for the nations socio-economic and political misadventure is traceable to absence of true federalism and its fundamental ethos. We need a True Federalism! If we have run out of idea on which models of federalism to adopt, I humbly suggest the Gujurat Model, based on the deliverables I saw and experienced, the facts are there and can be researched. The model of governance in Gujarat (India) provides undisputable justification for a quick return to true federalism in Nigeria, as both nations were at par few decades ago. I wrote this article last year as a prelude to the 2011 election to serve as template for the leaders and the led, it was not widely published, except for National Mirror that carried it in two separate editions. Kudos to National Mirror! Others what are you doing! On your mark set, go!!! Let come back to the classroom, after short break. Where did stopped Sanusi Lamido Sanusi? Dr. Ngozi Okojo Iweala are you still there ma? Members of the National Assembly stop making noise and listen sirs! Gujarat is just a state among the twenty-nine (29) states in India. Its capital is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is Ahmedabad. The state is abode to the Gujaratispeaking people of India and the nations richest state with a sustainable GDP per capita

income (GDPPCI). It is also the home of Mahatma Gandhi; the preacher of unity and a worldwide figure renowned for peaceful non-violent struggle against tyranny of the British Imperialists. The state is a near perfection of what true federalism is all about. What then is true federalism? What are the benefits and other deliverables of federalism observed in Gujarat? Federalism is a type of governmental structure where there exists sharing of power between the federal government and constituent units (states, provinces or regions) and if you like in own case states and local governments. The federating units agree on the areas of jurisdiction/autonomy/resources that each will concede to the central government, not an imposition by the central or federal as we practise here. Issues are well discussed and debated before final ratification. The constitution under federalism is usual written to specify the jurisdiction of the federating units (federal, states and local governments) with nomenclatures like exclusive list, concurrent list and residual list. There are two main models of federalism in the political or governance literature, namely: Dual Federalism and Cooperative Federalism. Adoption of the two models had socio-economic and political consequences on the sustainable growth and development of Nigeria. With regard to dual federalism, it was the model of federal system chosen by the founding father of Nigeria, at the dawn of independence. Its adoption was predicated on the fear of strong central government. The dual federalism (regional governments) agreed upon, allowed for strong regional government (west, east and north) and weak federal government. It also allowed for control over resources at the various regions. Dual federalism gave more responsibilities to the regions then, relative to federal government. More importantly, the dual model provided for larger share of the revenue to the regions than the federal government on account of larger responsibilities given to the regional governments/regions. Dual model of Federalism was driven by the principle of separation of powers; and checks and balances. This is the type of federalism that many Nigerians are agitating for. Alas! The Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria would have to be amended for this tall dream to be realised. Under the Dual federalism model, the regions competed with one another in the areas of industrial development, robust educational system, infrastructural facilities, robust discussions in their various houses of assembly; intellectuals aspired for posts not touts. The positive deliverables are too numerous to list. Cooperative federalism on the other hand describes a broader sharing of authority between the federating units (federal government and regional governments). It is a model of federalism that we are currently operating. Its adoption some decades ago was predicated on the need to save the nation from precipices of civil wars and disintegration, specifically Biafran war and Western region upheavals. This model as currently being practised, allows for strong federal government and weak state governments (which currently stood at thirty-six with federal capital). Alas! many of the so-called states are weak and unsustainable. Delay their monthly allocation and see how they will fall apart, like pack of cards. The problem is not cooperative federalism as such, but the Nigerian operators, who have subverted its principles. Cooperative federalism put the control of resources in the hands of the federal government, which then appropriates the resources accordingly. Cooperative federalism gives more responsibilities to the federal government and provides larger share of the revenue to the federal government on account of larger responsibilities as defined in the

Exclusive Legislative List. After civil war and takeover of control by successive military regimes, Nigerias federalism shifted to this model unknowingly and without mutual agreement among Nigerians or if you like ethnic nationalities in the three known regions North, East and West. We have operated the model for long without getting to the ElDorado promised us. We have suffered chronic poverty and diseases. This informed the sustained agitation for sovereign national conference by civil societies and Labour Unions since the annulment of June 12, 1993 election, widely acclaimed the best and won by MKO Abiola. The agitation dramatically metamorphosed into resource control by the people of Niger-Delta and now system change. The fact is that, we as Nigerians need to agree what version of federalism we want, who should be the drivers and in what manner would they assume positions of leadership. In contrast to Nigerias political permutations and abra-kada-brau type of governance, India allows for true federalism in all the 29 autonomous states. With specific reference to Gujarat, the state plays an important role in the socio-economic and political landscape of India. Like Lagos state in Nigeria, Gujarat has been the location of major ports on the Arabian Sea with several trade and commercial centres, thus making it one of the fastest growing states with flourishing economy in India. Gujarat is governed by a Legislative Assembly of 182 members. Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected on the basis of adult suffrage from 182 constituencies, of which 13 are reserved for scheduled castes and 26 for scheduled tribes. The term of office for a member of the Legislative Assembly is five years. The Legislative Assembly elects a speaker who presides over the meetings of the legislature. For the state, a state governor is appointed by the President of India, and is to address the state legislature after every general election and the commencement of each year's first session of the Legislative Assembly. The governor is purely a nominal, stooge or ceremonial head and representative of the President of India in the state of Gujarat, the appointed governor does not run the administration of the state. The leader of the majority party or coalition in the legislature (called the Chief Minister) or his/her designee acts as the Leader of the Legislative Assembly. The day-to-day administration and business of the state is vested on the Chief Minister without any interference by the governor or president. He is thus the chief executive of the state, a substantive Governor in Nigerian context. The politicians in India are technocrats who graduated from national universities and referred universities like Harvard, London school of Political Science and Economics, Oxford, Oxford Brooke et cetera. Indias political platform is not an Agbero style, Jeu-Soke tactics, godfatherism, Baba kee, Up National! Or Gbegiri-Ewedu politics that we have coined and engendered in the system, the ghosts are now hunting us as Nigerians. No wonder, Chief Olusegun Okikiola Mathew Obasanjo chorused recently that majority of lawmakers at the national and state assembles are rogues and armed robbers, and the judiciary stinks. Can we know more that the sage who had been there thrice? The 29 states in India enjoy a federal structure with genuine democratic ethos of rule of law, constitutionalism, independence of judiciary, independent legislative assembly, independent electoral organ, full resource control, checks & balances et cetera, Consequent upon these dynamic democratic ethos and enabling political environment, the

state of Gujarat over the years established itself as a leader in various industrial sectors including textiles, engineering, chemicals, petrochemicals, drugs and pharmaceuticals, dairy, cement and ceramics, and gems and jewellery, amongst others. This vibrant state as it is popularly called in India is the main producer of cotton and groundnuts in India. Other major food crops produced are rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, Tur, and gram. Gujarat has an agricultural economy combined with industrial sector ; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area. Let us pause a little and ask ourselves some pertinent questions. Other major food crops produced are rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, Tur, and gram. Gujarat has an agricultural economy; the total crop area amounts to more than one-half of the total land area. Let us pause and asked ourselves some pertinent questions. Where are the cherished groundnut pyramids in the North? Where are the beautiful cocoa grown in western Nigeria? Where are the gallons of palm kernel and palm oil from the Eastern Nigeria? The simple answer is that growers have abandoned the fields for politics. Why? It is faster, quicker and easier to make money that work on the farms. As a councillor you live like king, as chairman of a council you are a small god. As governor, you become an oracle, worshipped by the subject. Let us leave presidency! It is instructive to tell Nigerians that, Gujurats State Domestic Product (SDP) is rising at an average growth rate of 14% per annum in real terms. Gujarat own and control State Wide Gas Grid of 2,200 km. 87.9% of the total roads in the state are asphalt surfaced. Besides, 98.86% village connectivity with allweather roads, the highest in India. 100% of Gujarat's 18,000 villages have electricity connection for 24hr power through the Jyotigram Yojana. PHCN are you there? Did I here you say states cannot own and run independent power and gas plants. Between states in India, you pass through border crossing to check-mate crime. You roam your phones between states. National Police exists, but Governor is the Chief security officer, the Police Commissioner does not need order from Inspector General of Police (IGP)! Gujarat established the first gas-based thermal electricity generation in the country, with national market share of over 8% and second nationwide in nuclear electricity generation with national market share of over 1%. Interestingly, the state since 1995 generates as much as 35% of its power generation capacity through independent power plants (IPPs), a dream which Lagos state has been nursing, but which the federal government has found difficult to approve. It may interest Nigerians that Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system was introduced in Gujarat with full autonomy and control under Ahmedabad Janmarg Bus Rapid Transit System; it is the first BRT project in the whole of India with monumental performance. The Gujarat BRT like the replica in Lagos, Nigeria, is not only about creating bus infrastructure, but also about enhancing the quality of commuting with dedicated bus lanes, cycle tracks, pedestrian facilities, personalised vehicles and optimum parking. Consequent upon its efficiency experienced by foreigners (even the author) it was hailed as the best mass transit system in the country. Recently, it was awarded the international transport honour, as the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award. Apart from the litany of successes above, other Gujarats socio-economic contributions to the whole Indias economy are provided below in quantitative figures in order to serve as

bench-mark for self-seeking governors presiding over economically non-viable states in Nigeria to measure their states performances henceforth: 17% of Fixed Capital Investment 16% of Industrial output 22% of India's exports 16% of Value of Output 12% of Net Manufacturing Value 10% of Factories 98% of Soda Ash production 80% of Diamond Export 78% of Salt production 62% of Petrochemical production 53% of Crude Oil (Onshore) 51% of Chemical products 37% of Groundnut production 35% of Cargo Handling 31% of Cotton production 30% of Natural Gas (Onshore) 10% of Mineral production 25% of Textile production 35% of Pharmaceutical products Longest shoreline of1,670 kilometres (1,040 mi) In conclusion, after the jolly-jolly of Democracy Day, the executive and national assembly should sit down and tackle headlong the hydra corruption in the oil sector. Two, the duo should come up with robust economic policies that would alleviate poverty, provide jobs for the unemployed, put food on the table three times a day. Three, the stolen but recovered billions should be utilised for infrastructural facilities. Four, enabling environment should be created for entrepreneurship development and foreign investment. Five, robust discussion on the future of Nigeria can then commence. We need constitutional amendments, specifically the issue of true federal structure. When that is done, the political landscape would allow power and resources to be constitutionally divided between the federal and the states without rifts and acrimonies. The proposed political arrangement like what obtained in Gujarat would help engender pluralist democracy, equitable revenue sharing formula, competition among the states, state police, public choice, rule of law, independent judiciary and protection of minority rights. The present federalism going by the avalanche of criticisms indeed favoured arbitrariness, rent-seeking, self-seeking, monopoly of resources by powerful centre, weak cum non-viable states created for political reasons, nepotism, unequal opportunities and corruption, the result are over concentration of power at the center and big-headed federal government. It may interest all readers at home that last year 2010, Forbess list of world's fastest growing cities included one of Gujarats cities; Ahmedabad at number 3 after Chengdu and Chongqing from China. The world is moving fast and would not wait for failing states and profligate nations. We therefore need to make a U-turn now, as a nation with great hopes and aspirations. Chief Imam of Abuja and Head of the Abuja Chapel stand up and pray for Nigeria. May Allah Bless Nigeria, amen!!!