Regional Autonomy And Social Economic Devt

By KELVIN OSEMENE

NOBEL Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka set the tone in his key note address titled ‘The Mission, The Future’ which he delivered at the second South-South Economic Summit at Asaba, Delta State.

Expectedly, the hall filled to capacity, had the audience listening with rapt attention as the erudite scholar dished out his lecture

The knotty issue of balance of power and the restructuring of the federation did not come as a surprise to the people particularly in gathering of leaders and people of a geo-political zone that has always canvassed for true and fiscal federalism as a way out of the painful expropriation engendered by constitutional arrangement that leaves much to be desired.

The Nobel Laureate understood the mood  and the sensibilities of the people. He knew as a matter of fact that South-South despite its role as the economic live wire of the Nigerian federation, had not much to show except, environmental problems foisted by the expropriatory activities of the petroleum merchants.

Prof. Soyinka knew  that South-South in the days of yore boasted of robust human and material resources that kept the region bubbling with a buoyant economy and the people playing formidable role in the political chessboard of the nation

He was equally aware that the nation recorded more eye-catching landmarks when regions were allowed to control their resources and develop according to their own pace not  dictated by the overbearing influence of  a very strong centralized government

The erudite  scholar was also aware of the  consequences of the water-tight centralization a product of military regimes  into mere pantomimes and appendages of the Federal Government.

Prior to the military incursion, the northern region boasted of the groundnut pyramid, the south including the South-South derived  stupendous wealth from palm produce, coal, timber  and various food crops that that not only formed the building blocks of a vibrant economy but made the region self-reliant

The west not only boasted of cocoa but established a strong  regional tie among its constituents following which  it became the envy of many other regions in the federation.

Soyinka, a citizen of South-West Nigeria,  having seen the power and benefits of regional  intergrity,  co-operation and  resource control in a decentralized federation, therefore, meant  what he said when he suggested that the way out of the present downturn of the economy and paucity of development  could be located in regional autonomy and decentralization of the structure of the federation so  as to clothe the regions with more responsibilities .

According to the Nobel Laureate, the overbearing influence of the central government has made it impossible for the constituent states to aspire to greater heights making development very difficult.

Soyinka further suggested that  there should be no need for  calls for national dialogue,  maintained that  stronger regions would take the nation to the next level.

The suggestion by the erudite scholar could as well be the panacea to the present economic, social and political malaise in the country.

The prevailing security challenges posed by the Boko Haram for instance,  may become a thing of the past if the Federal Government had focused more on security leaving some other matters for the states to  handle.

Will the Soyinka formular make the magic? Only time will tell.