In the quest for reformation and true federalism in Nigeria to make governance more meaningful to the citizenry, special focus on political economy that provides opportunity for even distribution has been stressed for class elevation and egalitarianism.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State who stated this on Monday in Ilorin at the All Progressives Congress, North Central Zonal Public Meeting on True Federalism, maintained that the core of the current agitation for true federalism or restructuring is a drive towards redistributing resources in an equitable manner.
According to Ahmed, “this dialogue should explore ways of ensuring the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. That, to me, is what we must address our minds to within the context of our federation or any other structure that we may come up with”.
The Governor, while saying that any structure that meets the economic, and political aspirations of the majority of citizens will be welcomed, ponted out that, “The nationwide dialogue by APC on true federalism”, the governor said, “connects with its expressed commitment to making governance more meaningful to the people by changing the way people are governed, especially in terms of access to and allocation of resources”.
Also speaking, Rauf Aregbesola, the Osun State Governor, said the APC set up the committee on true federalism as a way of aggregating the views of Nigerians on how the nation should be governed.
Aregbesola, who is a member of the Committee on the Dialogue, streesed that the party made the concerted effort of robust discussion in moving the country forward and how do we relate with one another, rather than imposing on Nigerians.
In his message, the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello said the state had garnered the opinions of its stakeholders and resolved to committing to issues of national development.
Governor Bello who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Solomon Nyaze said the state is not in support of division of the country but for policies that will promote national unity and devolution of power.
Ali Ahmad, the speaker of Kwara State House Assembly in his submission supported local government autonomy, rejected recreation or marging states said: ” kwara should not be marged with any state.
On revenue allocation, Ahmad suggested that, “federal government should be taken 40%, state to take 35% and local government to be taken 25% for them to become executive chairmen.”
Various speakers from labour unions, traditional councils, community development associations, professional bodies, marketers, youth and religious groups agreed on the unity of the country, independent candidacy, devolution of power and local government autonomy but rejected the idea of creating new states.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
