A pleasant surprise visiting one of Nigeria’s iconic building, Cocoa House, conceived and brought to reality under a regional administrative system
It was the last Wednesday of the year 2022, my first time at Cocoa House, Ibadan. The historical building dates way back into 1965 and was the brain child of one of Nigeria’s finest political figures, Obafemi Awolowo, the astute political thinker known for his democratic socialism policies, struggle for good governance and welfare of the general masses.
First Timer
I walked into the building expecting very little of the said place this was following the invitation of Mr Akin Southgate* to come over to the radio station of which he heads as the General Manager.
A pleasant surprise indeed realising that the building was managed by the Odu’a Investment company, a conglomeration of the six south-western states of Nigeria, viz-a-viz Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos. Photos of the governors of these states are hung on the walls of Odu’a office, ground floor Cocoa House.
My thoughts, harks back to two fundamental lessons taught as an undergraduate, first the subject of Public Enterprises and secondly, Federalism in Nigeria. As I reflect more on this piece of historical, economic and political significant of about 20 stories plus the ground floor that hosts myriads of businesses including Jonathan King, Adron Homes, 32FM, to mention but a few, the relevance of good government policies comes alive more glaringly.
Federalism: Pre-independence v 4th Republic Experience
As a federation comprising of 36 states, Nigeria’s political history is rich and provides significant lessons for political gladiators and citizens alike – attempts at constitutional reforms, a shift from parliamentary to presidential system, experiment with military and civilian rule and consolidation of democratic processes especially in the 4th Republic. Prior to the attainment of independence, a regional system of government was put in place following the Richard’s constitution that bequeathed three regions for the ease of administration, although this has been bastardized overtime and heavily criticized for emphasizing ethnic differences above collective good. Significantly, the west, east and north each had natural resources for the generation of revenue for the government.
In the west, cocoa stood out and it is believed that the trading of cocoa resource led to the establishment of several state-owned enterprises, like the Premier Hotel, Cocoa House all under the joint ownership of Odu’a Investment Company, a co-partnership of the five states mentioned above. Two political figures worth mentioning with regards to the establishment; Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Akintola both leaders in the defunct Action Group prominent in the Western Region.
Regionalization in Nigeria has had its positive stance as it promoted self-independence and an enterprising spirit unlike what is obtainable in today’s ‘stateship’ where thirty-six commissioners of finance from each state go ‘begging’ every month to the federal capital to receive federal allocation. Many political thinkers have argued for the need to return to such fiscal arrangement where states or regions send surplus or constitutional proportion to the central and not merely waiting for dispensation from federal account. Regionalization, they argue leaves sufficient amount for development and improvement of the social status of citizens. Cocoa House is a testament of such assertion.
Public Enterprises: Nigeria’s Experience
The subject of public enterprises remains a dicey topic of discussion in today’s Nigeria especially in the light of the reduced efficiency of enterprises and indeed institutions owned by the government. The fourth republic has witnessed several turn-around and refurbishment of public institutions owing to reported inefficiency, large-scale corruption and redundancy; Obasanjo’s administration is noted for selling-off of these institutions or better put privatization of government owned establishment owing to these factors.
Considering this fact, it is no little wonder then my ‘pleasant surprise’ at the continued existence of cocoa house, an idea conceived ere Nigeria’s political independence. Continued reflections of this theme brings to mind the intricacies politics and policy play in our everyday life and progression of society. I can only wish Nigeria is blessed with such leaders who look into the future more often than building a house of clay filled with earthly goodies for private benefit only.
Jerry Anietie 