Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde Reveals When Nigeria’s Problem Will End
Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo, believes that fiscal federalism and devolution of powers are the only solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
True federalism, Makinde argued, is the country’s future democracy, and he urged the federal government to give states more power.
States deserved to have sovereignty over their natural resources and security architecture, he argued, in order to “avoid the path of disaster.”
Makinde delivered his keynote talk at the inaugural Seyi Makinde National Democracy Summit on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by Commissioner of Justice Charles Titiloye; ex-Edo Governor Professor Osariemen Osunbor; and Professor Eghosa Osaghae, Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), were among those in attendance.
Makinde said: “As we continue to deliberate on the future of democracy in Nigeria, let us remember that true federalism is the way forward. Restructuring the Nigerian state, and giving the federating units more powers is the route to economic prosperity.
“We are the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but our federalism exists in name only. Students of political history will tell you that what we have been practising is, in fact, a unitary system of government – where more powers are concentrated in the central government.
“There is so much power at the centre and another thing that our political theorists will tell you is that by nature, a unitary system of government is better suited for small countries, maybe countries with flat ethnic nationalities.
“Nigeria is not a small country and very diverse. You can easily identify why we are experiencing developmental challenges across the board. We are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.
“For true federalism to thrive, the federating units should have more powers and autonomy. The legislature is also fighting for autonomy, which has shown that we have to devolve.”
