South West Govs, Monarchs, others call for restructuring at APC hearing

Some of the South-West governors and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Monday backed the call for the restructuring of Nigeria at the All Progressives Congress’ South-West Zonal public hearing on true federalism held in Ibadan.

At the meeting, the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Moses Alake, said the endless call for restructuring and other agitations across the country meant that Nigeria must review the present governance system which gave more powers to the government at the centre.

Among other dignitaries at the meeting was the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, and the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

The Oyo State Governor said, “It should, however, be stated that the fact that the call for restructuring under whatever name, be it true federalism, devolution of powers, regionalism, resource control or whatever, has again resurfaced in Nigeria, is an indication that something needs to be addressed on the current structure.”

The governor pointed out that unless there was a legal caveat, the option of regionalism which would give greater powers to the regions, as being canvassed by some, could lead to the possibility of secession.

Ajimobi argued that local governments should be totally subjected to the state.

“Under this arrangement, local governments will be operating completely under the states, while revenue allocation formula should be reviewed upwards in favour of states to about 35 per cent,” he said.

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, said that in a marriage, it was vital for the consenting parties to decide how they wished to live together or be governed.

“On this note, permit me to say our state is very much with our other sister states in South-West Nigeria as per our aspiration and yearning. We strongly believe in fiscal federalism, we believe that each state should have control of its resources, we believe in state police, and basically all the issues we are here to discuss.”

Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abiodun Ogunleye, said the state was in support of restructuring, adding that it aligned with the position of the Yoruba Summit, which was held a few weeks ago in Ibadan, and which called for a return to regional system that would make every region to develop at its own pace.

In the memoranda submitted at the meeting on behalf of Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states’ monarchs, Alaafin of Oyo said Nigeria must be restructured as soon as possible to avoid a break-up like the one that the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics experienced.

He bemoaned the present structure where Lagos State, with a large population of over 20 million people, had only 20 local governments while Kano with far less population had 44 local governments.

“What I am saying is that, if we do not restructure Nigeria what happened in USSR may happen; USSR was broken with force. Romania also was divided through force. That is the way their leaders were doing.

“Workers in 36 states are not being paid, the governors cannot pay them. What caused this was the killing of political leaders in the First Republic which was sectional and unjust.

“Ironsi scrapped the federal structure and replaced it with a unitary system, since then we have not come back to true federalism. We have to go back to the glorious days of the marketing board, there is no need for ‘Federal Ministry of Culture’, the Federal Government has no culture.

“Lagos has 20 local government areas with 20 million people, Kano has 44 local governments with six million people. Where do they do that elsewhere in the world? Just like Kano, Jigawa State has more local governments than Lagos State.”

………… Don’t forget to like The Drum Online Facebook page and always visit www.thedrumonline.blogspot.com for your news updates.