A university don, Prof. Emmanuel O. Ojo, has warned that Nigeria could be heading towards an imminent catastrophe if urgent steps are not taken to address its structural and governance challenges.
He urged President Bola Tinubu's administration to revisit the reports of previous national conferences convened under former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, insisting that their recommendations could provide useful pathways towards resolving the country's longstanding national questions.
Ojo, a Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Ilorin, made the remarks on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State, while delivering the October Lecture of the Veteran Journalists Association of Nigeria (VJAN).
The lecture was entitled, “Is Nigeria a Nation or a Country? The Way Forward.”
He argued that Nigeria needed to undertake fundamental constitutional reforms and settle the question of the appropriate structure of its federal system, particularly whether the country should retain a three-tier arrangement or adopt a two-tier system.
According to him, the present structure has weakened local government administration, making it difficult for the third tier of government to fulfil its developmental responsibilities.
He maintained that granting local governments genuine autonomy would accelerate development at the grassroots, especially in view of Nigeria's geographical size and population.
“It behoves on the country to put into abeyance the unworkable constitution we parade as the ground norm and come up with a new one that shall devolve powers to the federating units pronto,” he said.
Addressing the question of nationhood, the professor argued that Nigeria, despite being a recognised country and nation-state in international relations, had yet to develop the shared identity and collective consciousness associated with a nation.
He described the country as a plural and deeply divided society, with different cultural identities, traditions, languages, dialects and social orientations.
Ojo noted that these differences had continued to complicate the task of national integration, making the achievement of unity in diversity a formidable challenge.
He said national integration was a gradual and continuous process requiring deliberate efforts to build emotional attachment and a common sense of belonging among citizens.
“The work of national integration is a continuous one that takes a long process, more so in a plural and deeply divided society like Nigeria. It requires much of psychological reawakening of sentimental attachment to the country,” he said.
The don further expressed concern that Nigeria had become more divided despite several decades of independence and successive efforts by governments to foster national cohesion.
“Sadly enough, Nigerians are much more divided today than they were before the 30-month agonising civil war between 1967 and 1970,” he stated.
In his address as chairman of the occasion, Engr. Remi Oseni, the APC senatorial candidate for Oyo South in the 2027 elections, called for improved security to protect political actors and residents during the electioneering period.
Oseni, who represents a constituency in the House of Representatives, expressed concern over the growing violence associated with political activities in Oyo State.
While commending the police and other security agencies for their efforts, he disclosed that he had personally experienced attacks on more than one occasion during the ongoing political activities.
He attributed his survival to divine intervention and appealed to politicians across party lines to embrace peaceful conduct.
The APC candidate urged political actors to reject bitterness, intimidation and violence, stressing the need to create an atmosphere conducive to peaceful political participation.
Earlier, the convener of VJAN, Mr Victor Oluwadamilare, drew attention to the difficult living conditions of many retired journalists, calling for greater institutional and public support for ageing media professionals.
He said members of the association were largely made up of senior and retired journalists who had contributed immensely to the growth of the media industry and the advancement of Nigeria.
However, he lamented that many of them had been abandoned after years of service, with some retiring without receiving their gratuities or benefiting from structured pension arrangements.
Oluwadamilare said a considerable number of the association's members were elderly and financially vulnerable, with many requiring medical attention and welfare support beyond their financial capacity.
He explained that VJAN was seeking partnerships with corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to improve the healthcare and general welfare of its members.
He said the association would not limit its activities to members' welfare but would also continue to contribute to national discourse through its professional experience and institutional memory.
According to him, VJAN would remain a credible voice in society, providing critical perspectives on national issues and promoting development.
Among the dignitaries at the event were Mrs Kemi Alao-Akala, wife of former Oyo State Governor, who was represented by Mr Ademola Alao-Akala, alongside members of the Alao-Akala Transformation Movement (ATM).
Senator Ayoade Adeseun was represented by Prince Leye Jokotoye, while Oseni also attended the event. Other dignitaries and stakeholders were present.
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