Eghosa Osaghae

Eghosa Emmanuel Osaghae is a Nigerian political scientist and academic. He serves as the Director-General at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), a professor of political science at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and was a professor of political studies at the now-defunct University of Transkei, South Africa. His career includes a tenure as vice-chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, a private university in Nigeria, from 2004 to 2018 Quotes The magic of federalism lies in the determination to make it work. He said that federalism should not be treated as a ready-made solution and that its effectiveness depends on how the system is adapted and made to function within Nigeria's particular circumstances. We need to get away from the idea that federalism is just about the constitution. Osaghae was arguing that Nigeria's federal system cannot be understood solely through constitutional provisions. He emphasised the importance of political culture, social circumstances and the actual operation of federal institutions. There is no country else in the world that is exactly like Nigeria. Osaghae was explaining why Nigeria should not simply copy the federal arrangements of other countries, but that Nigeria's distinctive historical and social circumstances require a federal system designed around its own conditions. We cannot simply borrow the federal systems of other countries and expect them to work here. Osaghae was making the case for a Nigerian form of federalism that takes account of the country's particular historical, political and social circumstances rather than reproducing another country's model. We need to develop a federal political culture of accommodation, resilience, tolerance and win-win for everyone. Osaghae was discussing the political culture required for federalism to function effectively in Nigeria. He argued for accommodation among groups rather than a political system driven by fears of domination. Two years on, we are not close to what the party promised to achieve in its campaign. In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, Osaghae was assessing the performance of the All Progressives Congress-led federal government two years after it came to power in 2015. The states are mostly dysfunctional and have failed to deliver dividends of democracy. Osaghae was discussing the performance of Nigeria's state governments and arguing that political dissatisfaction should not automatically be attributed to the federal government because state and local governments have important responsibilities. If the states were working these evaluations, appraisals would be fairer. Osaghae was explaining why political accountability in Nigeria often becomes concentrated on the federal government even when many public services fall within the responsibilities of state and local governments. If we don't de-colonise our right to autonomy and self-determination, Nigeria will never develop. Osaghae made this statement while discussing African development, colonialism and the importance of autonomy and self-determination at an international conference in Ibadan. Before our contact with Europe, Africa had its own self determined part of development and that is the trajectory African society pursued, but the story changed as soon as Africa started to have contact with Europe. Osaghae was discussing the historical impact of European contact on African development and arguing that Africa had its own developmental trajectories before colonial encounters altered them. Development is absolute security of human beings and a right of individuals. Osaghae was discussing the meaning of development in the context of Africa. He connected development not merely with economic growth but with human security and individual rights. The NIIA is a research think tank. In a 2021 interview with THISDAY, Osaghae was explaining the institutional role of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and how its research should serve Nigeria's foreign-policy interests. The whole mandate of the NIIA is tied to the promotion of the understanding of international affairs by government and the citizens of Nigeria. Osaghae was explaining the statutory and intellectual role of the NIIA, particularly its responsibility to provide research and knowledge that can inform Nigeria's foreign-policy engagement. The NIIA undertakes a scientific study of international affairs all the time. Osaghae was describing the research function of the NIIA and its role in developing knowledge that can guide Nigeria's foreign-policy decisions. External links Category:Living people Category:Political scientists from Nigeria Category:Academics from Nigeria Category:MacArthur Fellows