Former Minister of Information and ex-President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, has raised fresh alarm over Nigeria’s fragile unity, warning that the country may break apart before the 2027 general elections unless urgent steps are taken to restructure the federation.
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “How Did We Get Here?” at the public unveiling of two books authored by veteran journalist Ike Abonyi, Nwodo took aim at Nigeria’s current political structure, describing it as a faulty system that continues to fuel economic hardship, political unrest, and growing separatist sentiments.
Held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, the event drew a host of political heavyweights including Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; PDP chieftain Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; and Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, represented by the DG of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Emmanuel Agbo.
Nwodo said Nigeria’s woes stem from a centralised power structure that masquerades as federalism but in reality stifles the autonomy of its constituent units. He advocated the devolution of powers, full control of natural resources by sub-national entities, and the implementation of fiscal federalism.
“Our current system is unsustainable,” Nwodo declared. “We need to return power to the regions, allow them to manage their resources, and remit taxes to the centre for services such as external defence, foreign affairs, immigration, and customs. This is how we can build a functioning democracy and stimulate real development.”
He warned that without restructuring, the next general elections may face legitimacy crises, with some regions potentially withdrawing participation or rejecting outcomes.
“If we don’t restructure before 2027, don’t be surprised if parts of this country refuse to take part in the elections or accept its results,” he said. “And if that happens, the unity of the country may no longer be guaranteed.”
Nwodo also painted a bleak picture of Nigeria’s socioeconomic outlook, citing the 2025 UN World Population Prospects, which places Nigeria’s life expectancy at a global low of 54.8 years. He further referenced World Bank estimates indicating the country loses over $1 billion annually to its decaying road infrastructure.
In his remarks, former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, echoed Nwodo’s concerns, accusing President Bola Tinubu of presiding over the systematic erosion of democracy and economic collapse.
“We are heading for a total breakdown,” Secondus said. “What we have today is not democracy but a crude contest for power, without ideology or purpose. Under President Tinubu, the country is drifting fast toward collapse.”
Secondus also decried the absence of ideological grounding among Nigeria’s political parties, contrasting the situation with South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), which he said has maintained a clear political direction over decades.
Veteran journalist and former Guardian MD, Martins Oloja, who reviewed Abonyi’s new books—The Bubbles of Nigeria’s Democracy: The Musings of a Nigerian Journalist and Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a Partisan Journalist—praised the author’s courage in openly declaring his political stance.
“Partisanship in journalism is not inherently bad,” Oloja said. “In mature democracies, journalists are allowed to take sides as long as they inform, challenge power, and enrich public discourse. Ike Abonyi has used his voice to highlight critical truths.”
Oloja added that the books offer deep insights into Nigeria’s political landscape and serve as historical records of the country's democratic experiment.
Peter Obi’s quiet appearance at the event triggered murmurs of potential political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, though he declined to make any formal remarks. His presence nonetheless added significance to the event, which was seen as a gathering of key opposition voices and democracy advocates.
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