From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states recently converged on Akure, Ondo State capital, to debate restructuring and federalism. The party also organized a public hearing on the clamour for restructuring and true federalism. The party at the end of the hearing backed restructuring, describing it as the best for the country.

Present at the event were the South West zonal chairman of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure, chairman of the party in Osun State, Gboyega Famodun represented by the former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji, Ekiti State hairman of the party, Chief Jide Awe and his Ondo State counterpart, Mr. Ade Adetimehin.

Also present were Governor Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola represented by Commissioner for Regional Integration, Bola Ilori and the South East zonal Women leader of the party, Mrs. Rachael Akpabio who also served as the secretary of the committee.

The public hearing drew the presence of labour activists, students, artisans, rights activists and members of various interest groups.

Osun State government in a memorandum declared that the 36 states of the country should be abolished and the country should return to regional system. Gbadegesin stressed the need for regional government, just as he made case for parliamentary system of government, which he described as the best for a democracy like that of Nigeria.

He said the country is facing many challenges, especially in the area of security because the states rely on the government at the centre for its budgetary plans. He said each state must be allowed to control its resources by itself if the country will move forward.

A Second Republic senator, Olorunnimbe Farunkanmi, who spoke on behalf of Ondo State submitted that the solution to Nigeria’s problem is the return to parliamentary system of government and entrenchment of true federalism. He believed the country would develop if all the regions were allowed to have control over their mineral resources.

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He said the present constitution needs amendment as it was prepared by the military, noting that the constitution contributed to the calamities of the country. He wanted the states fused into the six geo-political zones: “We used to have regions in the days of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and that was our golden era in Nigeria. If we return to that system, each region will develop at its pace.”

Akeredolu said: “This is another opportunity for us as a nation to demonstrate that we can manage our affairs maturely and peacefully resolve all contending issues in the polity.  The vociferous call by most Nigerians for true federalism is an indication that something must be done urgently to assuage the nerves of all concerned and navigate the country’s ship from the precipice.

“We must take steps that will make Nigeria focus on sustainable human, social and economic development. The need to suggest a series of reforms culminating in a new constitutional order cannot be overemphasized.

“Most Nigerians are of the strong view that practical steps must be taken to arrest the current drift.  Many Nigerians have openly expressed concern about devolution of powers, what should be the federating units, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation, derivation principles, form of government, creation and/or merger of states, regionalism, state police, federal character, local government autonomy and so on.

“It will be naïve of any one to regard these issues as imaginary rather than real. This is an opportunity for Nigerians to remove the albatross, which the present position in the constitution of Nigeria constitutes on the country. We are not oblivious of the fact that the National Assembly and indeed all the legislative apparatuses in Nigeria have a critical role to play in this process.”

He called on all concerned to allow the true spirit of patriotism and nationalism to prevail: “Our efforts must not be in vain, the consequences of which we cannot imagine.”

Akpabio said the submissions of all the stakeholders would be given consideration. She promised that the position of each state would be vigorously considered by the National Working Committee of the party.