2023 Elections: I’ll encourage true federalism, devolution of power to regions, states — Prof Imumo

Accord presidential candidate, Professor Christopher Imumolen says he will make very conscious efforts to actualise the original vision of the country’s founding fathers to see that each region and states owned and controlled their resources.

For decades since after the country gained Independence in 1960, the issue of regional autonomy where sub-units in a federal system of government would be allowed sufficient freedom to chart their destinies through initiating and executing developmental objectives without being stymied by an overbearing government at the centre has been a subject of intense debate.

Stringent calls to force the central government to relax it’s hold on sectors of the economy where certain regions or states have comparative advantage owing to their unique peculiarities have failed to hit the right nerves with government at the centre preferring a system where the supposed federating units are usually given handouts in form of monthly allocations.

But speaking in a recent interview, the Accord party’s presidential candidate said he would listen to calls for the reinstatement of true federalism for the sake of equity and fairness.

“The issue of true federalism and devolution of powers from the centre has been with us for as long as anyone can remember. It is a very sensitive issue which requires utmost tact to handle,” Imumolen said.

“But I have always believed that it’s an issue we must tackle headlong as a country if the never-ending cries of marginalisation from almost every section of the country is to be resolved without violence or bloodshed.

“I have an analogy I always like to deploy in matters like this. I like to describe Nigeria as a polygamous union of six wives if you consider the six geo-political zones that make up the country.

“So, for the sake of equity and fairness, it is proper to do what you do for one wife to all other five wives!

“Otherwise, you will be setting the stage for anarchy. That is what we have continued to witness all these years as the government at the centre keeps shying away from tackling what I see as a very contentious issue with the seriousness it deserves.

“For instance, if you establish a ministry to take care of a particular region, you must do same for all the other regions.

“Also, we have seen the lopsided manner in which allocations are shared across the states and local governments. The yardstick for measuring who gets what in a country where the contributions to the national treasury is not the same will always create some level of discontent.

“Now, let’s consider this. Should land mass, rather than population determine who gets a larger monthly allocation? Continuing to operate a system where a section or region is producing more in an entity where everyone should naturally contribute equally in order to justify certain benefits, is a recipe for disaster, if you ask me.

“This is why I shall pursue vigorously a policy that will change this sad narrative if elected as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are going to interrogate the issues while consulting widely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure we find a way out of this logjam. Of course, the contributions of the National Assembly is key.

“Am aware that a lot of work has been going on as regards constitutional reforms. If there has been a marked delay in effecting the changes our esteemed lawmakers have been making, it is all essentially due to lack of will by the government of the day.

“A Federal Government headed by me will not be caught foot dragging on the matter because the country’s future depends on it,” he added.

Content created and supplied by: Profchrismolen (via Opera
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