Abuja, Nigeria – Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed skepticism about regionalism and the parliamentary system of government as remedies for Nigeria’s challenges. In an interview with Vanguard, Sanusi critiqued the current political structure and federal government’s overreach, particularly regarding state matters and traditional affairs.
Criticism of Bicameral Legislature and Ministerial Appointments
Sanusi questioned the necessity of maintaining a bicameral legislature and appointing ministers from every state. He argued that these practices contribute to bureaucratic inefficiencies and do not necessarily serve the nation’s best interests.
“I think there are several things we can do to address those structures because at the end of the day if you allow the state governors to run, the thing with devolution is we have 36 states, if only half of the governors are good, at least half of Nigeria has a good government,” he said.
He also criticized the federal government’s interference in state matters, especially traditional and chieftaincy affairs, emphasizing the need for upholding constitutional principles and maintaining a clear separation of powers to ensure accountable governance. “There is too much power at the centre, too much of the resources. The centre does not do primary education or primary healthcare, and that is where the vast majority of Nigerians are. Shouldn’t those resources come to the state? Instead of everybody going to Abuja, what is happening in Abuja?” he asked.
Opposition to Regionalism
The Emir believes that regionalism would exacerbate existing issues rather than resolve them. He called for a more cohesive national identity and governance structure that promotes unity and accountability.
“We had a parliamentary system in the First Republic. What happened? At the end of the day, it is the humans that operate the system. People talk about regions. Initially, the regions we had in this country were North, East, and West, and then it became NorthEast and MidWest. Where did the creation called six geo-political zones come from historically?” Sanusi questioned.
He highlighted the divisive nature of regional identities and conflicts, such as those in the Niger Delta and between Ife and Modakeke, arguing that these divisions undermine the idea of a homogeneous regional identity. “If you go to the Niger Delta, since when did the Itsekiri stop fighting wars against the Ijaw? Since when did we become homogeneous?”
Sanusi recalled the post-independence era under Yakubu Gowon when Nigerians thought of themselves as a unified entity. He criticized political leaders for exploiting regional and ethnic identities for political gain, only to cooperate across these divides once in office.
“When I was in King’s College, I grew up under Yakubu Gowon in a country where Nigerians were thinking like Nigerians. What happened? Political leadership is the one that exploits regional and ethnic identities as part of the struggle for political office.”
Call for Responsible Leadership
Sanusi dismissed the notion that reverting to a regional system or parliamentary government would solve Nigeria’s problems, citing the crises that plagued the First Republic and led to military coups.
“We had a regional system in the First Republic. How did it end? We had a parliamentary system in the First Republic. How did it end? I am not talking about the coup; I am talking about the crisis that led to the coup. Before Nzeogu, forget Ironsi. How was the system before they came? Is there any documentary evidence that that system was fundamentally better than what we have?”
He stressed that the effectiveness of any system depends on the integrity and responsibility of those who operate it. “We can’t shift responsibilities away from human beings, the people who are responsible for operating the system. If you go to the Senate and the House of Representatives, and you are there for 16 years and you have never passed a bill, you don’t even know that your job is to be a lawmaker,” he stated.