Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive without true federalism – Gov Diri

Affirms resource control agitation

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called for the adoption of true federalism in Nigeria, arguing that the country’s democracy cannot thrive in an environment where resource-producing communities suffer injustice and unequal distribution of national wealth.

Diri made the call at the annual Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre, Bauchi.

The Bayelsa governor argued that justice, equity and fairness l, the three pillars of democracy, have been undermined in Nigeria.

He opined that the country had “missed the road of democracy” because communities that contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic wealth continue to suffer underdevelopment.

He cited Oloibiri in Bayelsa, where crude oil was first commercially discovered in Nigeria, as an example of the contradiction in the country’s democratic system.

According to Diri, Oloibiri has become “a shadow of itself” despite its historic contribution to Nigeria’s oil economy, while revenues generated from the Niger Delta are shared nationally.

He also cited Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, saying that despite its enormous contribution to the national economy, the area lacked access to its headquarters for about 60 years until the recent completion of a 630-metre bridge.

The governor argued that the disparity in the number of local government areas across states also raises questions of fairness in the distribution of national resources.

“I have just eight local government areas. Some other states have 40 local government areas and above. And the resources from my state is used to share to those local government areas. And I have only eight. There is injustice,” he said.

Diri maintained that the problem goes beyond individual administrations, arguing that successive governments have continued the same pattern of resource distribution and centralisation.

He also linked the exploitation of natural resources to insecurity, citing the discovery of gold in Zamfara and other parts of northern Nigeria as an example of how resource-related interests can fuel instability when communities do not benefit adequately from their natural wealth.

The Bayelsa governor therefore argued that Nigeria needs to return to the principles of true federalism, which he said would provide greater fairness in the management and distribution of the country’s resources.

“Until Nigeria begins to practise federalism, we will have some pseudo-democratic, pseudo-autocratic, and sometimes even a tyrannical government in this country,” Diri warned.

He called for continued dialogue on Nigeria’s political future, saying the country must confront its structural inequalities if democracy is to deliver meaningful benefits to its citizens.