True Federalism: Key to Nigeria's Growth

I understand that the Federal Govt. wants to develop non oil revenue and this is a good thing. However, this will never materialise as long as we refuse to practise true federalism. Which state is going to have the discipline to devote consistent time and money to develop the non oil sector when they know that with or ...without work they will still receive a monthly check from Abuja. We see the same thing in the area of power generation where states that generate power are not allowed to transmit it independently and have to pass through PHCN. Given such conditions why would states want to invest in power? We need to run this country in a business like manner if we want Nigeria to progress and be the pride of the black race. For this to happen, we need to return to the principles that Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello and Obafemi agreed on before independence which led to regionalism which produced a better economic model before the military class of 1966 truncated it. Of course we cant revert back so easily to the regions now that we have so many states but we can revert back to the basic principles. There must be competition amongst states and the Federal Government has to give them complete economic freedom to chart their future destinies. Other than Foreign Relations and the Armed Forces, everything should be left in the hands of the states. They must fend for themselves. Let us see how many governors will drive long convoys and buy exotic cars for traditional rulers and commissioners if they have to fend for themselves. In the same vein, you will find that citizens of the states will be more likely to confront their state government if they see them mismanaging the state funds which at that time will only come from their sweat via taxes and what they produce in terms of agriculture and services. You will end up with more Raji Fasholas all over Nigeria. But this regular free monthly Federal Allocation has killed True Federalism and made us lazy, promoted corruption and has given Nigeria an odious image worldwide. IT HAS NOT HELPED US. Even today, the back bone of Nigeria rests on those things we built under regionalism (Kainji dam, University of Ibadan, UniLag, OAU-Ife, ABU Zaria, UNN, The Railways, Flour Mills and Textile Industry etc). And the sad thing is that it will only last as long as there is oil. What will we do when oil finishes? Why not do it today? We must realise that progress is not for people who do what they like rather than do what they must.