Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has an ambitious vision for Nigeria’s future: suggesting a renaming of the nation to the “United States of Nigeria.” This proposal was made public on Saturday in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka.
Adesina, the recipient of the 2024 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership, made this suggestion during his speech titled ‘Making a New Nigeria: Welfarist policies and people-centred development.’ He believes that this change will alter the dynamics between the states and Abuja, with the states serving as the pivot and the centre as their ally rather than their overlord.
“We must be audacious! Instead of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we could think of the United States of Nigeria. The old would give way to the new,
“We would change the relational mindset between the states and Abuja – the fulcrum would be the states, while the centre would support them, not lord over them.” Adesina said.
Adesina envisions a future where good governance, better accountability systems, and zero tolerance for corruption would lead to economically stronger constituent states.
“We would unleash massive wealth across the states. A New Nigeria would arise! To do so, we will need all of us, not some of us from our forgotten rural villages to our boisterous and dynamic urban areas; from the sparks of desire in the eyes of our children to the lingering hope in the hearts of our youths,” he added.
He further emphasized the need for constitutional changes to devolve more economic and fiscal powers to the states or regions.
“The achievement of economically viable entities and the viability of the national entity requires constitutional changes. The stronger the states or regions, the stronger the federated units,” Adesina concluded.
This bold proposal by Adesina has ignited a fresh conversation about Nigeria’s future, and it remains to be seen how it will be received by the Nigerian populace and the international community.
