The Nation Newspaper

Tag: true federalism

  • True federalism will discourage state agitators

    True federalism will discourage state agitators

    • By Sunday Olagunju

    Sir: In spite of the present harsh economic realities and the panoply of efforts being made by the Tinubu administration to combat and bring relief to all and sundry, agitators for the creation of new states are on the ascendancy. The agitators’ declared aim for demanding the creation of new states is the fulfilment of the principle of equity and balancing as a federation.

    The reasonable question to ask from the state creation Oliver Twists is how many states Nigeria have to create to satisfy those yearning for the principle of equality and equalization of status within Nigeria’s federal system of administration. With the current existing 36 states heavily dependent on federal allocation on monthly basis and which ipso – facto pre supposes their unviability, any further addition to the present 36 states is a clear act of political indiscretion.

    Read Also: EFCC fires two staff over corrupt practices

    One of the main reasons Nigerians  are advocating for restructuring is to ensure the viability and profitability of the existing states; to set them free to have control over their resources and by working hard, to harness their potentials, human and natural, to keep afloat financially. Doling out monthly allocations from the Federation Accounts seems to have kept these states inactive and unthinking; in addition to giving the wrong impression to people agitating for new states that if all is well with the existing states, it will also be well with theirs if, and when, created.

    The present administration should set in motion true federalism through legislative action and make the states to fend for themselves rather than depending on allocations that have kept the state governors on holiday, while the federal government bears the brunt of thinking how to generate money to run Nigeria, including for its unviable brides that contribute nothing.

    With true federalism, states will spend what they are entitled to by allocation and states that find it hard to cope will live within its earning and resources. Presently, state agitators are basing their demand on federal allocations and this is politically wrong and incompatible with true federalism which emphasizes the principle of work and pay. The present pseudo federalism encourages Father Christmas and which is antithetic to true federalism. Nigeria is not a banana republic that creates splinter states that lacks viability and purposefulness of existence.

    •Sunday Olagunju,

     Ibadan.

  • True federalism is the answer, says Bewaji

    The Executive Director of Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reforms (CODER), Dr. Wunmi Bewaji, spoke with reporters in Lagos on state of the nation. Musa Odoshimokhe was there.

    How can Nigeria work as a true federation?

    We are truly a federation and I can also tell you that the state of our democracy is also fine, even though  it is not perfect. We have problems here and there. For example, almost six months after election, we are still in court over it. No other country in Africa past through it. At the end of the day, I think being in court is better than being on the war front fighting for the so called mandate. There is also need for us to move away from judicialisation of the electoral process. The court should have very limited role to play in the entire electoral system. Election petition can be decided within two   months. If only we review the law and they streamline the groups upon which the election result can be challenged.

    For example, INEC conducted an election and it should be expected that INEC certificate should enjoy the highest presumption of regularity. Once INEC issued its Certificate of Returns to an individual, then it will require a huge rock to fall down that individual to lose the certificate. If you are a Ph.D holder and someone who has only primary school certificate holders has defeated you, that means there is something unique that the electorate found to ensure that the primary school certificate holders to defeat you. After the election, that should not be a ground for you to approach a court of the land that he does not qualify to contest. Also I will advocate that as a nation, we must move away from certificated qualification for elections.  Nothing should stop anyone who has not seen the four walls of a school, so called for running for political office in the country. If I did not have a Secondary School Certificate and under the law, and my vote is good enough to elect me, that should be good under the law, couple with my votes by the electorate, I should be able tho enjoy the votes of others even if they were professors.

    Also, if I can vote for those who went to school, those wo have also gone to school should also be allowed to vote for me. That is the liberty for us to say those who had not have a particularly certificate can’t be voted for, that’s anti democracy and we must shift emphasis from that. Those who put that in the constitution were only focusing on power and not on democracy which is about choice which can be limited.

    Why do you think we need to restructure this country?

    We need to restructure in the sense that you know we talk about unity in diversity. Nigeria is a federation and you know at Independence, we were familiar with the Lancaster Conference, the Independence Conference in London. The founding fathers of Nigeria, made it known that their solution to the diversity was to be able to use that diversity as raw material for unity. You can’t deny the fact that Nigeria is diversed, there are many ethnic nationalities in the country and all over the world, you have such diversity. The solution has always been a federal structure.

    Now, at Independence, what we had if you look at the 1960 Constitution, was a federal constitution. The 1963 Constitution was purely a federal constitution in which the component units of the federation were allowed to develop at their pace. Look at the 1960 Constitution, we had 22 items in the Exclusive List. So the areas where the federal government had exclusive jurisdiction were limited.

    But under the 1979 Constitution, they grew to 68 and that trend started since 1966 when (General) Aguiyi Ironsi came in and he thought that the solution to Nigeria’s problems was to have a Unitary System and that consumed Aguiyi Ironsi. Aguiyi-Ironsi was consumed by that and then we reverted back to Decree 1 which was federal in structure.

    Now, from that 1966 to 1979, we had that federal structure in place, but there was a problem. I had the opportunity of meeting the late Dr. Ajayi. He was one of the drafters of Decree 1 and he said the problem they had was that because in the Army, the structure they have there is command and obey structure. And that when they were drafting Decree 1, that they had a problem about what to do with a situation whereby if you now have a Head of State at the federal level, then in those regions, the military governors were presiding.

    Of course, there were very senior military governors then. The military governors at the regions or states would be junior to the Head of State and so, the Supreme Military Council (SMC) headed by the Head of State is now the highest organ. It is now the parliament. So the idea was that there is no way the Head of State would sign onto a law, and then a junior officer in his region or state would alter it and that was how the inconsistency clause was introduced.

    Niger Delta people believe the restructuring should be about fiscal federalism and that each region should be made to take possession of mineral resources…

    Yes, that is the Resource Control argument. The Resource Control argument of course also derives from the idea of having True Federalism. Of course, at Independence, what we had was each region controlling its resources, every region was controlling its own resources and you are then going to be paying tax to the federal government, that was what we had. It was only under the military the arrangement was changed to a situation whereby the federal government now controls everything. And was how the idea to placate the people who were arguing for True Federalism came, that was how the idea of the 13per cent Derivation was introduced but surely it is like scratching the problem on the surface because continually, people are going to continue to agitate for restructuring.

    So, this restructuring we are talking about, you know Keyamo appeared before the National Assembly, he said something about restructuring the Supreme Court and letting each state have its own Supreme Court. This is something that would not go away until we address it, the problem will not go away, we must restructure. The diversity is enormous and then, unity in diversity does not mean that we are not a country. Yes, we are Nigerians. Recall that Chief Obafemi Awolowo said: “I am first and foremost a Yoruba man before am a Nigerian’ and that is the thinking of everybody and that is what sustains this idea of rotation, of one region waiting for its own turn. So we cannot pretend that our Nigeria is one, yes. We are working towards attaining unity but unity must not be blind to diversity. It must be unity in diversity and not otherwise.

  • Revisiting ‘Much Ado About ‘True Federalism’

    People talk about ‘TRUE federalism’ as though there is a particular form of it that is sanctified -and to the extent of which all other forms of it which depart from that sanctity, are necessarily sullied and therefore ‘false’ or ‘untrue’. There is so much noise about Nigeria not practicing ‘true federalism’; or rather practicing a ‘unitary’ system in the disguise of a ‘federal’ one. But truth is no system of power-sharing can be practiced in the guise of another. A system of power-sharing is either ‘con-federal’ and therefore neither ‘unitary’ nor ‘federal’, or it is either ‘unitary’ or ‘federal’ to the exclusion of one and the other. Plus there is neither a ‘true’ nor a ‘false’ form of any of the three, the same way that a person cannot be any less or more ‘human’ merely because he is leaner or fatter than others.

    A ‘confederal’ system is a loose alliance of independent states in full control of their citizens, territories and resources, but bound by a weak centre funded by them to take care of issues of common concern –usually military or commercial or both. Neither the degree of the weakness of the centre nor the extent of the looseness of the alliance, nor again the scope of the independence of the states, can make it any less con-federal or any more so. It is sufficient only that this ‘loose alliance of independent states’ is ‘in full control of their citizens, territories and resources’, and that they are ‘bound by a weak centre funded by them to take care of issues of common concern. It is thus a misnomer to say that a system is a ‘true’ con-federacy –the way we bandy the term ‘true federalism’- when in fact, there is no proof that a ‘false’ form of it exists.

    Or, away from the extreme of ‘loose’ confederacy, a system can be tightly ‘unitary’, with laws conferring virtually all authority to a central, powerful government which controls all the citizens, territories and resources and, at will, can either benevolently delegate to, or malevolently retract, duties from the constituent administrative units, namely the other tiers of government. A unitary system cannot be any less or more so merely because it delegates or retracts less or more duties to or from these constituent units. It is sufficient only that a unitary system arrogates the power to do or not to do either of these. And so it is equally a misnomer to say that a system is ‘truly’ unitary –the way we bandy ‘true federalism’- when there is no proof that a ‘false’ form of it exists.

    A ‘federal’ system on the other hand allows, at least, the sharing of ‘power’ and ‘resources’ between a much stronger centre and its constituent states which, depending on countries, may or may not enjoy varying degrees either of constricting or of expanding ‘autonomy’ –sometimes even bordering on partial ‘independence’. And although the fundamental attribute of a ‘federal system’ basically is that ‘power’ and ‘resources’ are shared between a strong centre and its constituent states, most ‘federal’ systems, almost in a con-federal fashion, are not averse to granting substantial autonomy to states to control even their citizens, their territories and their resources. But this is not to suggest that any such ‘federal system’ that does not do so is any less ‘federal’ than those which do. Bringing us to the same fact, that a ‘federation’ is so called essentially because it allows, even if at the very least, the sharing of ‘power’ and ‘resources’ between two levels of governmental administration, and not necessarily because the central level allows ‘substantial autonomy’ to the constituent parts to control their ‘citizens, their territories and their resources’. Nor will a ‘federal’ system suddenly become ‘unitary’ –as we often allege ours has- merely because it has not moved from ‘sharing power and resources’, to granting ‘substantial autonomy’ to its constituent states to control their citizens, their territories and their resources.

    And so, theoretically-speaking or even if existentially so, a system is either ‘federal’, no matter how profoundly or superficially so, or it simply is not! And so if a system is not ‘federal’ in structure, it can only either be ‘unitary’ or ‘con-federal’ in its make-up. It cannot be a hybrid of one or a crossbreed of the other. The history of these three forms of power sharing arrangements essentially does not admit of classification or definition by half-measures: a cup of these systems is neither ‘half-full’ nor ‘half-empty’! It is either ‘full’ or it is simply ‘empty’.

    Fundamentally therefore, Nigeria, even as it is presently constituted and administered, is not any less a ‘federation’ than virtually any of the so-called democratically-advanced nations of the world that practice that system. That Nigeria has opted to abide only by the most fundamental rudiments of ‘federalism’ –namely sharing ‘power’ and ‘resources’ between the centre and its constituent parts- rather than by allowing ‘full or even substantial autonomy’ to them to ‘control their citizens, their territories and their resources’, neither takes her away from the ‘federation’ that she is nor does it make her the ‘unitary’ system that she is not!

    The system run by Germany for example, in spite of bearing all the semblance of ‘unitarism’ -with the states acting as mere agents for the central government- is equally no less a ‘federation’ than say, even the United States of America which is reputed to operate the best model of it. The sharing of governmental ‘power’ and ‘resources’ between the centre and its constituent parts essentially should be sufficient to preserve the credibility of any nation laying  claim to ‘federalism’ –even as any nation’s partial romance with ‘unitary’ tendencies too, may not be sufficient to make it a ‘unitary’ state. A system –as the German type testifies- may have unitary tendencies and still be a federation even as a unitary system may pretend to tinker with federal tendencies and still be no less unitary.

    And so, how much less of a ‘federation’ any country can allegedly be said to be merely because it exudes partial ‘unitary’ attributes or merely because such country is unable to transit from ‘power’ and ‘resource’-sharing to the granting of ‘partial or substantial autonomy’ to its constituent parts, is a matter more for the contemplation of political science than it is for the consideration of constitutional law. Thus the term ‘true federalism’ essentially is a misnomer, whether it is applied strictly in decrying a nation that ‘shares power and resources’ rather than grant ‘autonomy’, or it is applied trivially in the condemnation of a ‘federation’ that still exhibits unitary tendencies.

    Nigeria is not any less a ‘federal system’ than any of the world renowned practitioners of it, -namely the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, Switzerland etc. Nor are any two of these listed federations in any way practicing exactly the same form of federalism.

  • Southern governors vote for devolution of power

    Southern governors vote for devolution of power

    States in the Southern part of the country through the governors on Monday reiterated their belief in true federalism within the context of a united Nigeria.

    In a communique after the first meeting of the 17 Southern states 12 years after the Forum was inaugurated, the governors also said the south required more infrastructure from the federal government.

    They also agreed to continue to collaborate as partners in progress.

    Host Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was appointed as chairman of the Forum with Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi as co-chairmen.

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha is the only governor who did not attend and failed to send a representative.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano sent their deputies.

    Ambode said states would benefit from the envisaged restructuring.

    He said the goals of true federalism, which included the strengthening of autonomy and the enhancement of fiscal viability, would enable the states to develop at their own pace, based on their peculiarities.

    Ambode, who hosted the meeting of the 17 Southern governors last night, said the forum had achieved an increased awareness on the sustenance of the national question that is germane to peaceful co-existence in the country.

    However, he said a lot needed to be done and achieved, stressing that true federalism required urgent, meticulous and proactive attention by the forum.

    Ambode frowned at what he described as the non-periodic review of the revenue formula as provided by the constitution to reflect evolving realities.

    He said the review is crucial to enhance the viability of states and local governments and their capacity to fulfil their developmental roles in the polity.

    The governor added: “States are disparaged for always carrying begging bowls to Abuja in quest of hand-outs from the Federal Government. This is a function of our present national constitution that burdens the Federal Government with activities and responsibilities that rightly fall within the province of states.

    “The productivity and revenue-generating capacities of most states are thus stifled, thus turning them into no better than street beggar states incapable of even meeting routine obligations of paying workers’ salaries and pensions without federal support.”

    Ambode recalled that Lagos State had fought and won several legal battles since 1999 that systematically strengthened its autonomy and enhanced its fiscal viability.

    He noted that the state had won the legal control over the management of its environment, the control of urban and physical planning, the regulation of overhead masts, the registration and regulation of hotels and restaurants, and the control of inland waterways.

    Ambode said these victories belonged not only to Lagos but also to other states, adding that, if Lagos could achieve so much by fighting alone, the Southern Governors’ Forum would accomplish more through collective planning and strategy.

    The governor said the forum had been reactivated at the time the National Assembly is harmonising its differences over the 1999 Constitution amendment which will soon be transmitted to the Houses of Assembly for approval.

    He said: “It is important for this forum to comprehensively look at the proposed amendments with a view to working with our respective Houses of Assembly to ensure a coordinated response on our part that will strengthen the practice of democracy, federalism, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

    Ambode clarified that while pushing for greater devolution of power, responsibilities and resources from the centre to the states, the goal of the forum is neither to a weak centre and strong states and vice versa.

    The governor paid tribute to former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his initiave, recalling that he hosted the first meeting of the forum in Akodo Beach Resort, Ibeju-Lekki, when he was at the helm of affairs.

    He said while the initiative was received with mixed feelings at the time, Tinubu was vindicated later because of its achievements as the forum became a vocal voice on matters of critical importance, not only to the Southern Nigeria, but to the country as a whole.

     

     

     

     

    Ambode hailed the form for advocating for a special allocation to oil-producing states in the Federation Account, adding that its agitation led to the current 13 per cent revenue derivation and allocation from the Federation Account.

    He added: “Another major victory won towards strengthening the country’s practice of true federalism was the declaration by the Supreme Court in 2002 that the then prevalent practice of the Federal Government deducting monies from the Federation Account as a first charge for the funding of Joint Venture Contracts, the NNPC priority projects, servicing of Federal Government’s external debt, the judiciary and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other federal obligations were illegal and unconstitutional.

    “The Supreme Court in that case abolished the special funds created by the Federal Government to enable it draw funds from the Federation Account to pay for matters that fell within its exclusive responsibility before sharing whatever was left with states and local governments.”

  • Tinubu: Nigeria better off with true federalism

    Tinubu: Nigeria better off with true federalism

    •Ex-governor: We’re stronger as one nation

    •FG can’t withhold Paris Club refund meant for states •Seeks national infrastucture plan

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday spoke on vexed national issues, restating that true federalism will correct the country’s power imbalance.

    “The imbalance between the roles of the federal and state governments lies at the root of our difficulties. We need to re-balance the duties of the federal and state governments. The quest to correct the imbalance is the essence of federalism that I have advocated for so many years,” he said in an address he sent to the 2017 Annual Dinner of the King’s College Old  Boys’ Association (KCOBA) in Lagos.

    The address was presented on his behalf by one-time Lagos State Commissioner for Finance Mr. Wale Edun.

    Tinubu noted: “Due to our particular political history and its military legacy, the quality of our federalism and the quality of our democracy are intertwined. The more we repair federalism, the more we improve democracy.

    “In my mind, federalism denotes a division of labour between the federal and state governments that functions to maximise the benefits of governance to the people. True federalism is that brand which provides that the federal government should focus on those few but essential things only it can provide such as foreign policy, defence, and national economic policy.

    “All other matters should be left to the states. If there is doubt over a particular issue, the presumption should be that the states, not the federal government, should take the lead.

    “Here, I say to those so eager to dispense with federalism in favour of more rash and impractical remedies, let us first truly practice federalism before we deem it a failure. If given but a fair chance, we just might perfect federalism by making it work for the benefit of all of us.”

    The former Lagos State governor said it would be better to restructure things to attain the correct balance between “our collective purpose on one hand and our separate grassroots realities on the other.”

    He called for the re-calibration of the revenue sharing formula in  order to bring more funds to state and local governments so that they can take care of their enlarged responsibilities.

    According to Asiwaju, the residual effect of the old unitary system has made hash of the Paris Club refund owed the states.  “Money that is owed the states belongs to the states. We all support propriety of expenditure. The sentiment behind the withholding is understandable if not laudable. But the federal government has no right to withhold funds that constitutionally belong to the states. The fear of possible misuse of funds is no reason to violate the constitution,” he said, adding:

    “Provide the funds to the states as legally required. Committed and fine governors will use the funds wisely. And the people will be better off. As to those who squander the money, there are appropriate ways to expose and sanction them. This is where the federal government can appropriately step in. However, to withhold the funds, no matter how well intended, is to undermine federalism and the rule of law. It will have adverse long-time consequences; as such, it is too high a price to pay.”

    The country he said, needed a national industrial policy to foster the development of strategic industries that create jobs as well as spur further economic growth.

    “Whether we decide to focus attention on steel, textiles, cars, machinery components, or other items, we must focus on manufacturing things that Nigerians and the rest of the world value and want to buy,” he said. Tinubu urged the federal government to institute a policy of tax credits, subsidies and insulate critical sectors from the negative impact of imports, saying:

    “We need a national infrastructure plan. Roads, ports, bridges and railways need enhancing and new ones need to be built, the goal must be a coherently-planned and integrated infrastructural grid. A national economy cannot grow beyond the capacity of the infrastructure that serves it. Good infrastructure yields a prospering economy. Weak infrastructure relegates the economy to the poorhouse. Government must take the lead…

    “The long-term economic strength of the nation is dependent on how we deploy now idle men, material and machines into productive endeavour. And this is highly dependent on the interest rate.

    “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) must cure its affection for high interest rates. Lower rates are required so our industrialists may borrow without fear that excessive costs of borrowing will consign them to irredeemable debt. The normal profit rates in most business sectors cannot support the burden imposed by current interest rates.”

    Tinubu, who restated his brief in a united and better Nigeria, warned against ignoring the agitations in some parts of the country. He said: “We argue over matters that long ago should have been settled. The longer such fundamental questions fester, the more extreme become the proposed answers.

    “Thus, we have people clamouring for secession and the murmur of such a course grows stronger in other sections.

    “These other areas resent that some have advocated secession. Blame and recrimination become the political currency. Statesmanship falls in short supply. The dominant urge is to confront instead of reconcile.

    “It would be wrong to mistake this for a tempest in a teapot. If not careful, we may be tossed about like a teapot in a tempest.

    “We must listen to what is being said so that we can determine what is really meant…

    “Yet the cry for separation has gained traction among average people; this is due to the chronic failure of government to meet basic aspirations.

    “If over the years, government had delivered on the promise of growth, prosperity, and justice, those calling for such extreme remedies would be but a small fringe of little consequence.

    “Our task is not to condemn but to listen and understand. I care not at all for this proposed solution. But I dare not discount the concerns and problems that have led many people into advocating such a thing.

    “Here, I want to plainly state my position. I am a firm believer in Nigeria. I believe this land will become a great nation and a leader among other African nations. We can resolve our dysfunctions in a manner that will make this nation rise as a standard of decency, justice and prosperity for all Nigerians.”

    According to the political stalwart, when we unite and not untie, “we build on an existing maxim of one Nigeria by describing that oneness as the fabric of a larger society S.E.W.N. (South East West North) together”.

    Among those who graced the lecture are BOT Chairman, Chief Philips Asiodu;  KCOBA President, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam, his predecessor, Hakeem Belo – Osagie, Dr. Sunny Kuku. Others are  Member Board of Trustees, King’s College, Otunba Adeoye Tugbobo; Alhaji Hakeem Fahm, his wife Muftiat and Lagos State Commisssioner for Establishment, Training  and Pension, Dr. Akintola Benson, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Minister of State (Defence) Musiliu Obanikoro.

  • True Federalism: Obaseki hosts panel as APC flags off public hearing

    True Federalism: Obaseki hosts panel as APC flags off public hearing

    ..delegates seek return to regional govt, part-time legislators

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday, hosted the All Progressives Congress (APC) panel on True Federalism in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as the party commenced public consultation on Nigeria’s restructuring.

    Welcoming the members of the party’s Team One, in charge of the South-South geopolitical zone, made up of the governors of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje; Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, Obaseki assured the delegates that their submissions would be given due consideration.

    Some of the delegates drawn from Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states made a case for a return to the regional structure, parliamentary system of government and part-time legislators as against the current cumbersome and expensive model.

     Dr. Frank Nwugo, a legal practitioner from Delta State, submitted that the National Assembly should deliberate on restructuring the country and adopt part-time legislator.

     Mr Daniel Usifoh, a representative of Ika Ethnic Nationality said the Ika social group wants the nation to go back to the regional system of government. He recommended the creation of eight new regions; four in the north and four in the southern part of the country.

    He also recommended the adoption of the parliamentary system of government, noting that the presidential system was too cumbersome and expensive to run, and called for the abolishment of the Federation Account.

     Earlier, the host governor, Obaseki, explained that the APC embarked on the public hearing to gather all shades of opinions from the public for the restructuring of the country.

     He urged the delegates to feel free to air their views on all issues, assuring that all submissions would be given due consideration.

     The Edo governor also said the submissions from the various local government Councils as well as from organised labour unions in the state would be collated and submitted to the committee within a seven-day period.

     The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Amosun, who represented the chairman of Team One of the committee and governor of Kano State, Mr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, said the idea of the public hearing was to allow Nigerians contribute their quota and have a say on the issue of restructuring of the nation, stressing that the voices of the citizens would be made public and be adhered to.

     Amosun said: “one of our mandates as a party is restructuring and the president has kept to his words in his manifesto hence the need for this event. 

     Governor of Osun State, Aregbesola, said the only way to give bite to true federalism is to hear from critical groups like the youths, women and other important stakeholders, as their views are important in building a strong nation.

    “Youths and women should have their submissions on how the nation should be organised as everyone needs to ensure that Nigeria does not fail.

     Some of the issues deliberated upon included: Local government autonomy, revenue allocation, resources allocation, independent candidacy, fiscal federalism, type of legislation, powersharing, among others.

     The forum had in attendance representatives of civil society organisations, youth and women organisations, the academia and traditional institutions as well as religious groups drawn from Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, which represent Team One of the APC restructuring team.

     

  • Senator Tinubu seeks adoption of true federalism

    Senator representing Lagos Central Oluremi Tinubu has called for an amendment of the constitution to make Nigeria a true federal state.

    She said while the nation’s laws and constitution expressly declare that Nigeria is a federal state, the practical application of most of the laws effectively makes Nigeria more a unitary state.

    Speaking on the theme: “Governance and National Development: Issues and Implications” at the University of Lagos 12th Annual Research Conference and Fair yesterday in Lagos, Senator Tinubu defended the clamour for true federalism in some quarters.

    She said the different ethnic tribes were independent and relatively politically-sophisticated before the advent of the colonialists.

    She lamented that the incursion of the military into politics in 1966 upended the near-perfect fiscal arrangements agreed to by the founding fathers at independence in 1960 and that subsequent constitutions have tended to perpetuate the anomaly.

    “For a country as diverse and large as Nigeria, only the practice of true and fiscal federalism can engender equitable development of the constituent units and make effective governance easy,” she said.

    The senator recommended that the power over some of the items listed in the Concurrent Legislative List in Part II of the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) like prisons, antiquities and monuments, archives and public records, university and technology as well as some of the items in the Exclusive List should be exclusively vested in the states of the federation.

    According to her, this will bring development closer to the people and ensure that policies formulated for the execution of these functions are those that are informed by the local conditions of the people.

    Tinubu urged governments at all levels to endeavour to work in the interest of the people, saying all government’s policies must ultimately be judged by whether they deliver on the promise of the government to the people under the “Social Contract”.

    In attendance at the conference were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, Registrar of the university Dr. (Mrs) Taiwo Folashade Ipaye and Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, among others.

  • ‘True federalism ‘ll keep Nigeria together’

    ‘True federalism ‘ll keep Nigeria together’

    The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin has said ‘24 years after the annulment of June 12 election,’ the country is enveloped in apprehension and anxiety.

    He said true federalism is the way forward for the country.

    He added that the country was still labouring under strain and palpable uncertainty, noting that Nigeria has not learned from the lessons of history.

    Odumakin said: “On June 12,1993, Nigerians trooped out in their millions to elect a President after seemingly endless twists and turns in Babangida’s transition programme. It was a beautiful day Nigeria was going to achieve nationhood in the course of choosing M.K.O Abiola from Yorubaland.

    “But, the Babangida junta in an unjust diktat annulled the election as it dawned that Abiola had won against all hegemonic permutations. The annulment propelled a five-year resistance during which Abiola and Kudirat his wife were assassinated alongside many prominent pro-democracy activists.

    “An arranged transition was put in place after the liquidation of Abiola, with a military imposed constitution to preserve Nigeria without addressing the damage done to the nationhood by the annulment.

    “We have fumbled and wobbled through 18 years of pretending that our unity is settled, mouthing hackneyed phrases like “indissoluble union” and “non-negotiable unity”, while the country falls more and more into pieces on a daily basis.’’

    Odumakin said the threat by some Arewa youths that Igbo living in the north to quit was unfortunate and divisive.

    “We now mark another June 12 amidst an October 1 quit order to Ndigbo by Arewa youths who have also secured endorsement from the Northern Elders Forum, with the Arewa Consultative Forum conceding what they called “the frustrations of the youth” with Ndigbo.

    “While the primary targets of the Arewa youths’ quit order are the Ndigbo residents in the North, we are not deceived that when the rubber hits the road, the Almajaris and the Mujaheedin would pick and choose among all southerners in the North for the baying of blood.

    “This is why the Yoruba nation is warning that this is a déjà vu and that no country has ever survived two civil wars. We recall how events cascaded in the 1960’s from the moment emergency rule were imposed on the Western Region until war broke out in 1967.

    “The same arrogance of power, insensitivity and atrocious impunity that were at play then are still very much at play today. The same section of Nigeria that rejected the outcome of Aburi is still shouting down the strident calls of most peoples of Nigeria for restructuring today, because command and control is more important to them than equity, justice, fairness, peaceful co-existence, harmony and a progressing country.

    “A climate of fear, apprehension and anxiety now pervades the country as no one knows what can happen, with the absence of a leadership that can rise up to the occasion to save the Republic.

    “That not one member of the group of “youth “ organisations who had unfettered access to Arewa house to threaten the unity of Nigeria has been arrested is a clear signal that the butterfly that is dancing on the surface of the Arewa River is dancing to some drummer beneath the water surface.

    ”When we attained independence in 1960, Nigeria’s pot was standing on a tripod. Two legs out of the three are now in a near-war face-off. It would be an illusion of grandeur to think that this pot can continue to stand in this way.”

    He restated the belief that the only way that Nigeria would be able to fulfill its destiny as one country was the practice of true federalism.

    “If, however, our compatriots from the North and East are not averse to the continuation of Nigeria as a country, the only acceptable path toward this end is political restructuring.Fortunately, we have a roadmap in the recommendations of the last Confab, which must now be pursued and implemented.

    “But, in the event that our co-citizens do absolutely insist that we the peoples of Nigeria can no longer live together, we Yoruba nation will not want a violent termination such as happened in Yugoslavia. Even though our Yoruba nation boasts a history of great wars, gallant warrior leaders and warlike people who fear no war, we nevertheless abhor war and bloodshed.”

  • Niger Delta elders demand true federalism to quell rising ethnic tension

    Elders from the Niger Delta have called for true federalism as the only holistic approach of addressing rising tension in the country.

    The elders also demanded increased derivation accruing to the region from 13 to 50 per cent to immediately address developmental imbalance.

    The Coordinator, Niger Delta Elders and Leaders Forum (NDELF), Chief Mike Loyibo, said the people were no longer interested in Federal Government’s palliatives and ‘’cosmetic peace’’ approach in the region.

    Loyibo, who is also a frontline member of the Niger Delta Dialogue Group (NDDG), maintained that only comprehensive approach would address injustices in the country and ensure sustainable peace especially in the Niger Delta.

    Speaking in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, yesterday, following his conferment of an Urhobo chieftaincy title of ‘Otuyota’ (the bearer of truth), Loyibo said palliatives had only given births to different groups of agitators.

    The chief, who received his chieftaincy title from His Royal Majesty Edward Otadaferua, Erhiekvwe I, Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Delta State, said it was high time states were allowed to control their resources.

    He said:  ‘’In the Niger Delta, we want true federalism; we want derivation to increase from 13 per cent to 50 per cent; we want the infrastructure in the region to be upgraded to the standard of Abuja and Lagos, we want schools, hospitals, roads and empowerment, among others.

    ‘’We are averse to cosmetic peace approach by the government. We have a situation, for instance, when there are bombings, the government comes and deceives you with one approach and you will forget your agitations.

    ‘’After that one, there will be another set of freedom fighters that will come and fight for a better deal for the area. So, what we want is, if you address and turn the Niger Delta to Abuja and Lagos standards, it is we the leaders that will even help the Federal Government to identify the troublemakers in the area.

    ‘’Good things do not hide; your development will swallow every pocket of criminal aspects in the struggle. That is why we do not want cosmetic peace. We insist on a holistic approach by solving the problem once and for all. By so doing, there will be peace, growth and development of the Niger Delta.’’

    Loyibo argued that true federalism would allow states to develop using their resources and pay designated taxes to the Federal Government.

    “During that era, the West was producing cocoa and paying tax to the Federal Government and the North, groundnut and they were paying tax to the government and that is true federalism.

    ‘’We must restructure Nigeria for every section to develop at their own place. That is the thinking of the ordinary people that I represent in the Niger Delta.

    ‘’We are concerned about the environmental problems, the economic problem, the infrastructure problem and even the political problem.

    ‘’We want to be seen to be actually involved because we are not second class citizens; anywhere in the world, we are first class citizens and Nigeria belongs to all of us. All of us are equal people, there is no part that can intimidate any other”, he said.

    Loyibo further said governors and leaders from the region would soon converge to prepare a peace document, which would be forwarded to the Federal Government for quick implementation.

    He acknowledged that the region was bedeviled with leadership problems, which had equally contributed to underdevelopment of the Niger Delta.

    He said: ‘’Generally, our political leaders have not done enough and they need to see this place as their priorities. We have been urging them to step up so that they can leave legacies and do enduring projects for the people”.

  • Wike: Rivers people want True Federalism  

    Wike: Rivers people want True Federalism  

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that Rivers people are insisting on true federalism because they crave a country where all federating units are allowed to develop in line with their respective potentials and resources.

    The governor emphasised that the demand for true federalism simply means that Rivers people believe in a united Nigeria, where  no section  is denied the control of her resources.

    The governor who spoke at the Government House Port Harcourt on Tuesday night when the Rivers State Government hosted the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr William Symington to a State Banquet, also called on the Government of the United States of America to set up a Visa Office in Port Harcourt to  cater for  the South-South and South-East.

    He said: “We are clamouring for true federalism.  When you talk true federalism, they think  you don’t want to  be part of the  country. We talk about true federalism as practiced in America.  A true presidential system where all the Federating units will be allowed to enjoy their resources and contribute to the centre.

    “That means we believe that there must be a country called Nigeria.  All of us will work together for the unity of the country”.

    He explained that Rivers people  seek equity, fairness and justice in the country, stating that the right framework  must be established  to ensure that all states excel at their pace.

    On the request for the United States Government to set up a Visa Office in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said the visa will resolve  the issue of equity  and justice as the Abuja office serves the north and Lagos office serves the South West.

    He assured that the American Ambassador that the state is safe for business, pledging that his administration will partner with investors, as the right environment has already been created.

    “Forget about the media propaganda.  This state is an opposition state. Therefore, don’t expect them to say it is the best.  But, we are the best state. We are doing everything to ensure that investors do profitable business under the ambit of the law”, Governor Wike said.

    In his remarks, the Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria, Mr William Symington commended Nigerians for the unity of the country.

    He said that Nigeria is a great country because of the contributions of Nigerians.

    “Nigeria will be great and I expect a super power and a super partner “, he said.

    The Ambassador of the United States of America to Nigeria was accompanied by the Consul General , John Bray.

    Head of Service of Rivers State, Mr Rufus Godwins, in a welcome remark on behalf of the Rivers State Government, pointed out that Rivers State shares a lot of similarities with the  United States of America, especially in the area of the presence of oil resources, love of human rights, justice and fair play.

    He, however, pointed out that while United States practices fiscal federalism where federating states own their resources, Rivers State suffers untold hardship as her resources are exploited to the benefit  of others.