Mohammed O. Taoheed reports,
Chief Bisi Akande, a Governor of Osun State, has stated Nigeria can only combat its incessant terrorism, poverty and threats of secession by devolving more powers to the states.
TrackNews Nigeria gathered that the elder state-man pointed that the devolution of more powers is the only way out to save the nation from self-destruction.
Akande said that true federalism would resolve the country’s fundamental developmental challenges.
Akande made this known yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, at the official presentation of a book, titled: Serving With Integrity: Ideology and Praxis of Senator Ayo Fasanmi in Nigeria’s Politics, in honour of Second Republic Senator Ayo Fasanmi.
The book, written by the late senator’s daughter, Dr. Olufunmilayo Fasehun, and her husband, Dr. Orobola Fasehun, was reviewed by a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Kayode Soremekun.
Akande, who was represented by a former Osun State Deputy Governor Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, delivered a speech, titled: “Fasanmi, A Nigerian Patriot”, at the event.
The leader from the ruling The All Progressives Congress (APC) insisted that the country would return to the path of good governance, if the sub-nationals were given more powers to operate.
According to him: “The purpose of devolution, generally, is to bring the government closer to the people so that problems of security, poverty, and agitation for self-actualisation could be reduced or better handled. The logic is very simple.
“Federating units or subsidiary units are usually the theatre of action. That’s where you have the land, the forests, the farms, the schools, the hospitals, the manufacturing industries and even the roads and the citizens together with daily economic and social activities. “Take education, for example. What business has the Federal Government to engage in primary and secondary education? These schools are located in the states and their local governments.
“The truth is that subsidiary units perform better in Nigeria when they are in control of their resources, security outfits in the cities and the forests, and in all other activities within their space. That was why the different regional governments were able to achieve a lot between 1954 and 1966, just within a space of 12 years!
“America works because its federal system, which we copied, thrives on the devolution of powers, by laws, between the central and the states; and, each state devolves powers to local governments, known variously as counties, boroughs, municipalities, and townships.”
Meanwhile, the authors explained that the book was conceptualised to talk about good governance in Nigeria, saying that this was the most disturbing need for Senator Fasanmi during his lifetime.
Dignataries at the event included the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; a former Oyo State Deputy Governor Iyiola Oladokun; a former Osun State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Akintunde Adegboye; Oniye of Iye-Ekiti, Oba Jonathan Adeleye; deceased’s son, Justice Obafemi Fasanmi and Mr. Bayo Aina.
