Social critic, retired Colonel Abubakar Umar, has said for Nigeria to develop, it must practice true federalism.
Umar said this in a statement on Tuesday.
He said every country needs a just ruler to prosper and that the nation already has one in President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said with Buhari, Nigeria’s treasury is secured.
Umar, however, said the country requires more than this to prosper.
He said the country requires a just and equitable system.
He said such can only be achieved through true federalism.
The statement, titled: Beyond our oil economy,” reads in full: “There is no doubt that all nations need just rulers to prosper. In Nigeria, the emphasis has been on getting that honest and just ruler. There is no doubt that in General Muhammadu Buhari, we have a relatively honest and just ruler. I have no doubt that Nigeria’s treasury is secure under President Buhari’s watch.
“But what Nigeria truly needs is a just and equitable system. The Nigerian State as presently politically and economically structured is aimed at the exploitation of oil and gas resources of the Niger Delta region. The Nigerian state exists for the sharing of those assets. This makes the Nigerian President a defacto Accountant-General.
“If we are to develop, we must do away with this food is ready system and start practising true federalism as the only way to unleash and unbound the vast economic potentials of all the federating units. Our present system is unsustainable, more so that oil prices are rapidly declining.”