Yes, We Are All Biafrans!

Just Yesterday, I wrote on my Facebook page that we are all Biafrans, and not a few people saw it as my own endorsement of the Biafran agitation for secession.
It was easy for them to draw the conclusion that I had given up on the idea of a United Nigeria.
Some expressed their surprise, especially given my earlier disapproval, and sometimes, disgust at the struggle for secession.
Well, what they failed to understand is that we have always been Biafrans!
By the way, "We are All Biafrans" is the title of a collection of essays by a Social Critic and Activist, Chido Onuma.
Before I go on, let me say that the idea of Biafran statehood died far back in 1970, at the end of the Civil war, and it really dawned on us in 2013 with the release of Chinua Achebe 's Civil War Autobiography, "There was A Country ".
So, as far as I know, there will never be a country known as Biafra but the struggle for secession and independence by different parts of Nigeria will continue for as long as the very problems that gave rise to declaration of Biafran Independence in 1967 persist.
In fact, aside the Pogrom of 1966, the problems that exist in Nigeria today are even worse than those of 1966; there's widespread discrimination in the appointment of political office holders; the minorities are becoming more and more maligned in every aspect of the country, there is an ongoing systematic ethnic cleansing perpetuated by the Fulani herdsmen, and of course, there is a malignant mutual distrust among all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
So, to the extent that in one way or another, the same problems that plagued Eastern Nigeria in 1966, which gave rise to the agitation for Biafra, and subsequently, the Civil War continue to plague virtually every ethnic group in Nigeria, I dare say that WE ARE ALL BIAFRANS.
However, I am sure that every discerning mind will agree with me that solution to the problem of Nigeria is in the urgent restructuring of the Country.
What we need is to reconsider our Federalism.
We operate perhaps the most obscene type of Federalism in Nigeria, one that has aptly been described "Kwashiokorism ", which is simply suggestive of imbalance.
I totally agree with Justice Niki Tobi who famously states that "there is no such thing as True Federalism; Federalism is what the constitution says it is".
However, I'm of the view that while we might not be able to attain the ideal Federalism as a country (no country has achieved that) , we can actually renegotiate for a Federalism that is closer to our "ideal Federalism "
Everything in Nigeria from the Constitution to the structure of the Political Parties actually tilts us towards imbalance, thereby triggering feeling of actual or perceived marginalization.
For instance, in line with the powers contained in S. 162(2) of the 1999 constitution, the existing sharing formula of fund from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, stipulates that the Federal Government receives 56 percent while state government and the local government councils get 24 and 20 percent respectively.
From this point, it is clear that in a Country that is large and diversified as Nigeria, the Federal Government is far more powerful than the component units, put together.
This excessive concentration of Powers at the Centre is perhaps the major reason for the series of instabilities Nigeria witnesses; everything lies in the Federal Government, from the Police to the Judiciary, and even to the generation of electricity.
With this glaring concentration of powers at the Centre, it is easy to understand why every ethnic group in Nigeria feels that having one of their own as the President of Nigeria will be a solution to all of their current and future problems.
The State Governments are starved, and they rely on the Federal Government for virtually everything.
Really, how can there be any real developmental stride in the States when they rely on the Federal Government for virtually every relevant need.
The constitution has not helped matters too!
For instance, some of the items in the exclusive legislative list should by no means be handled by the Federal Government.
I can go on and on making reference to the problems that come naturally with our lopsided and imbalanced Federal System but that wouldn't solve the problem.
The truth is that as long as the Federal Government remains unassailable in terms of it's powers in relation to the Component Units, every ethnic group in Nigeria will continue to see presence in the Federal Government the opportunity to develop their respective units.
This will not be the case if the State Governments are allowed by the constitution to develop at their own pace, as was the case in the early years of Nigerian Independence.
So, I will lend my voice to the call for the restructuring of Nigeria, which should start with a radical amendment to the provisions of 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Unless we restructure Nigeria, more militant groups will rise from the Niger Delta!
Unless we restructure Nigeria, the most populated regions will see the position of President as their birthright!
Unless we restructure Nigeria, the Minorities will continue to do all they can to have one of their own at the helm of affairs at the Centre!
Unless we restructure Nigeria, more ethnic groups will clamour for Independence and Secession!
Unless we restructure Nigeria, the struggle for Biafran Independence will not go away!
Unless we restructure Nigeria, Nigeria will never witness any meaningful and sustained progress!
Unless Nigeria is restructured, WE ALL WILL REMAIN BIAFRANS!
Clinton Elochukwu.