After the bloody army coup of 1966, General Yakubu Gowon, as the Head of the Military Government was reported to have said that “in a press conference on 8th October, 1966, I therefore put before you the following forms of government for consideration:- (a)  Federal system with a strong central government (b) Federal system with a weak central government (c)  Confederation and (d)  an entirely new arrangement which will be peculiar to Nigeria and which has not yet found its way into any political dictionary”.

Unfortunately because of the peculiar state of Nigeria at the time, Gowon`s advice fell on rocky ground and the nation drifted into an unnecessary but costly civil war (1967-1970).

Though the civil war ended more than forty years ago, many Nigerians feel that the country had learnt nothing, and fared worse from the consequences of the war.   In fact, political stability and unity seem to appear as elusive ghosts in a country ravaged and devastated by a costly war.

The drift towards dis-integration and political anarchy would perhaps be one of those reasons that have influenced President Jonathan, in his wisdom to convey the present National Conference in Abuja.

There is no doubt that many of the older delegates (called the Elders) would be having at the back of their minds the wise words of advice by the former Head of State, retired General Gowon when he called for an arrangement which is peculiar to the Nigerian political situation – a plural society with entrenched ethnic and religious interests.  I believe that the present National Conference is in the best position to try a new experiment.

In the past political history of Nigeria since 1960 (year of Independence), various forms of government have been tried without any resounding success.  The 8-point Programme of Northern Leaders in 1953 and the Biafran Aburi Declaration – all forms of Confederation –were regrettably rejected.  Some analysts still hold the view that some aspects of confederal system should have been seriously considered before outright rejection, the outcome of which still stalls process of developmental goals.

Perhaps it is time to try our hands on something new but not too revolutionary or radical, to upset the fearful conservatives and doubting traditionalists.  Nigeria has tried the British parliamentary system of government under the Independence Constitution; it failed, ending in a civil war, the American system practiced under 1979 Constitution led to the army coups of 1983 and subsequent counter-coups by ambitious politicians in army uniforms.  The present Constitution has given no respite to the people who are confused as to whether we are operating a unitary or federal Constitution.

The beautiful country of Switzerland with a very high standard of living is a multi-nation state.  It is a confederation of 26 Cantons, with each Canton enjoying “quite some autonomy”.  Switzerland is a home to the Germans, the French and Italians – all living in peace and prosperity.

The political atmosphere is stable over a long period, under a multi-party system.  Like Nigeria, it had gone through a civil war in 1847, but the new structure in 1848 had put Switzerland on a sound footing and its special `democracy` is responsible for political stability which often leads to economic prosperity.

Fortunately, Nigeria shares the same political characteristics with Switzerland.  Nigeria operates a federal system of government, Federal, State and Local Government – this is where similarity ends.  In Switzerland, the Cantons which form the federal government are autonomous and have their own separate Constitutions (like we had under the Federal Constitution of the First Republic).

The Federal Government is limited to federal responsibilities of Defence; Currency; Communications; Transportation; External Affairs; while the Cantons (States) deal with police, education and other day-to-day affairs without the overbearing operational measures of the federal might.

However, the beauty of ‘Swiss Democracy‘ does not lie only on its elegant structure but also in the enjoyment of democratic principle – participating fully by the citizens in governance.  Nigerians elect and pay heavily for their legislators whose main responsibility is to make laws.

As it is noted in a publication, “Both Chambers of Switzerland National Parliament meet several times annually to sessions during several weeks and between them to preparing meetings in numerous commissions, but being a member of parliament is not a full time job in Switzerland contrary to most other countries today.  This means that members of parliament have to practice an ordinary profession to earn their living – thereby, they are closer to everyday life of their electorate.

The Federal government is a coalition of many parties and it represents all the Cantons.  The President is the first among seven others who are heads of department.  It is noted also that ‘Switzerland`s government is a team consisting of seven members with equal rights.

Each member of the government acts as head of a department of the federal administration, but all major government decisions are taken in weekly government conferences either by consensus or by majority voting of all seven members.

The members of Switzerland federal government are usually (re-elected every four years in December after the parliamentary elections by both chambers of the federal parliament meeting together as the Federal Assembly.  There is no legal limit to the total term in office; some federal councilors have been in office for over 20 years’.

A distinguishing feature of Switzerland‘s federal government is that it is based on coalition of parties and not on domination by a single party like what we have in Nigeria.  It is believed that honours shared are preferable to honour denied to others which can lead to divisive tendencies.

Swiss democracy lies in direct participation in government through referendum and also in Initiative whereby a citizen can affect changes in the Constitution if he has enough supporters (100,000 votes in 3,500,000,000 votes), therefore, referendum and its uses to settle controversial policies and laws are very fundamental to democratic processes.

It may be necessary for Nigerians to examine the concept of referendum and part-time legislative work as cardinal principles for political stability in a plural and poor society.