North-South Divide: Senators Clash Over Return to Regional Government.

Kano, Nigeria

In a heated debate during a two-day retreat on the 1999 Constitution review, senators from Nigeria’s northern and southern regions clashed over the proposition to return the country to a regional form of government. The retreat, organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), saw northern senators firmly opposing the idea, while some southern senators expressed support for it.

Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, voiced strong opposition, recalling that his constituency did not benefit from the regional government practiced between 1954 and 1966. He emphasized the need to reform Nigeria’s federal system rather than revert to regionalism. "My people didn’t enjoy the development of that so-called regional government that was based in Kaduna. We aren’t going back there again," Ningi stated. He advocated for reforms within the current federal structure, emphasizing fiscal federalism and the devolution of power.

Senator Muntari Dandutse from Katsina South echoed similar sentiments, stressing that Nigeria’s priority should be on improving governance and better management of the country’s abundant resources rather than regionalism.

On the other side of the debate, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North, supported the return to regional governance, arguing that it would promote economic independence and reduce corruption. He pointed to the First Republic, where regions harnessed their resources effectively. "We were able to harness all our resources. When you make the centre less attractive, you cut off corruption," he said.

The retreat revealed deep regional divides on how Nigeria’s governance structure should evolve, with northern senators calling for reforms to the current system and their southern counterparts advocating for a return to the regional model that allowed more autonomy for states to manage their resources.

As the constitutional review process continues, it is clear that any significant changes will require political consensus, extensive debate, and the will of the Nigerian people.