A don, Prof. Emmanuel Ojo, has emphasized the need for Nigerians to imbibe a true “federal spirit” in all aspects of national life to promote justice, equity, and unity.
Ojo, a professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, made the call while delivering the institution’s 291st Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday in Ilorin.
The lecture, titled “The Worship of an Unknown Deity,” examined Nigeria’s challenges with national integration and federalism.
According to him, Nigeria has found it difficult to uphold the tenets and basic principles of federalism due to the absence of a genuine federal spirit among its citizens.
“Nigerians lack the federal spirit to accommodate one another for national integration and development,” Ojo said.
He described the situation as unfortunate, attributing it to the plural nature of Nigeria’s society.
“It is important to recognize the plural character of Nigeria to appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face in achieving national integration,” he added.
The don noted that, like many other multi-ethnic societies, Nigeria must address the complex task of integrating its diverse ethnic groups within the federation.
Ojo advocated a new governance model that includes a rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones, to ensure inclusivity and balanced representation across regions.
He also called for mass mobilization of citizens to foster national unity and sustainable development.
“Not much can be achieved without the active involvement of the masses, who should serve as catalysts for both national integration and national development,” he stated.
Ojo, a former Chief of Staff to the late former Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, further stressed the need for Nigerians to properly conceptualize federalism as a practical mechanism for integration.
“The earlier we understand and internalize federalism, the better for our system, so we can truly worship the ‘deity’ of national unity and achieve meaningful integration,” he said.
