Ango Abdullahi: Nigerians Should Consider Separation If Country Isn’t Working, Calls For Conference To Assess Nation’s Progress

In a thought-provoking interview, with Newtelegraph Professor Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University and convener of the Northern Elders Forum, shared his views on the current state of Nigeria under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu government.

Describing the situation as “very sad,” Abdullahi attributed the country’s problems to both Nigerians and their leaders, emphasizing the need for accountability and the repeated election of the wrong people.

As a personal friend of President Tinubu, Abdullahi advised the President to listen to the complaints of the people and ensure that his officials provide honest and sincere reports. He stressed the importance of the President devising ways to verify the information given by his close associates and punishing any official found to be in breach of the law.

Addressing the recent protests against perceived hardship, Abdullahi affirmed that hunger is a reality in Nigeria and that the Constitution protects Nigerians’ right to peaceful expression. He criticized the government’s reluctance to allow the protests, stating that it infringes upon the rights of Nigerians to freely express themselves.

Abdullahi also highlighted the Amalgamation Decree of 1914, which stipulated that the entity called Nigeria would expire after 100 years. He called for a conference to evaluate whether Nigerians have made sufficient progress in building a nation. If no consensus is reached, Abdullahi suggested that Nigerians should consider going their separate ways.

Commenting on the creation of the North West Development Commission, Abdullahi questioned the effectiveness of such commissions and cited the example of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which has been unable to provide affordable petrol prices despite the country’s vast oil and gas resources.

When asked about the suggestion to revert to the 1963 Republican Constitution and practice a Westminster Parliamentary system with a regional governmental structure, Abdullahi emphasized the need for Nigerians to revisit the Amalgamation Decree and assess their progress in building a nation. He stated that if Nigerians have failed to build a country after 100 years, they should consider the appropriate steps recommended in the decree.

Abdullahi also revealed that he had refused to attend the constitutional conference organized by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, deeming it badly constituted. He had discussed the matter with the late Professor Ben Nwabueze, and they both decided not to participate.

In conclusion, Professor Ango Abdullahi’s interview sheds light on the complex challenges facing Nigeria and the need for a critical evaluation of the nation’s progress. His call for a conference to assess the country’s future and his suggestion of potential separation if consensus cannot be reached are likely to spark further discussions on the path forward for Nigeria.