By Mark Lenu
The Edi-Abali of Kalabari Kingdom, Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari has revealed the level of disservice Decree 34 of 1966 has done to Nigeria.
Report has it that the Decree was unacceptable to many people because it annulled the federal system of government and substituted it with a unitary system which resulted in multiple military juntas.
Alhaji Asari was quoted on Friday as saying: “The British colonialist intended to make Nigeria a federation state which was why the national anthem clearly says Nigeria is a land where no man is oppressed. The British left Nigeria with three federating units namely the Eastern, Western, and Northern regions, as well as the federal capital territory in Lagos.
“The Midwest was later created out of the Western region, making Nigeria four regions and five federating units.
“Nigeria was doing well before the coup calamity of 1966 came up. That coupled to the emergence of the Late General Aguiyi Ironsi who promulgated Decree 34, taking away the federation and making Nigeria a unitary state. It was a great disservice ever done to Nigeria.
“Thereafter, the General Yakubu Gowon led military government pretentiously referred to Nigeria as a federation state while in fact, Nigeria is a coup unitary state.
“General Gowon was a little bit fair by making the North equal to the South with the creation of six states for the North and six states for the South.
“The late General Murtala Muhammed emerged as Head of State and the North started having an edge over the South and that has continued.
“One of the persons I know has fought for the restoration and restructuring of this country is President Bola Tinubu and that is one of the things that endeared me to him.”
