The South-West would accept nothing short of fiscal federalism, resource control and parliamentary government from the National Conference.
The group – the Afenifere Renewal Group, the Yoruba Assembly, and the Yoruba Academy – who unveiled a publication entitled, 'Regional autonomy or nothing,' in Lagos on Monday, also condemned northern delegates at the confab for campaigning against devolution of power and restructuring of government.
A leader of the ARG, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin, while addressing journalists at the event, said Nigerians needed to build consensus and reclaim the country from ideas and practices that had brought the country to its current sorry state.
He said, "We are therefore baffled at the take-it-or-leave-it attitude of delegates from other ethnic nationalities, particularly the northern delegates who circulated a document full of fallacies few weeks ago. Those fallacies have now been exposed by the facts and figures contained in the publication we are unveiling today.
"It is inconceivable that northern leaders are the ones leading the campaign against devolution of power and restructuring of government. If any region needs a stronger federating unit with greater capacity to provide education, health, security, wealth creation and other social amenities, it is the North where strong links exist between the level of poverty and conscription of innocent youths into extremist tendencies.
"It appears northern leaders are not concerned, and indeed have no plan for the teeming youth from the region, as long as they are able to continue to hold on to power."
The groups listed the demands of Yoruba people to include a regional government with its own constitution and unfettered political and fiscal autonomy; a negotiated legislative exclusive, concurrent and residual list; a unicameral legislature at the centre; and a parliamentary form of government at the centre.
They also demanded for the right to self-determination, up to the right to secede; just and equitable taxation system that will treat the federating units with equality; fiscal federalism and resource control; establishment of regional police; a new people's constitution at the end of the confab; and a special status for Lagos State.
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l concur
ReplyDeleteGood
ReplyDeleteI have always believed that the only way Nigeria will grow is by going back to the regions and decentralizing the power of the president to being a mere figurehead. That way all eyes will be less focused on the presidency cos there will be no money there to steal. Now to the races. If the leaders of any of the regions steal, their own people will deal with them. There will be no need of saying it is Hausa time so let me embezzle for me and my brothers before the thing shifts and the vicious cycle continues. Ohhh there will be accountability......All monies will be better scrutinized.
ReplyDelete100% agreed. This force marriage is not working. Break it up into three.
ReplyDeleteNorth
South West
South East
Let the people decide by referendum. You will be surprise that Yes vote will be around 70% and 80% for break-up.
We need to break as much as possible, not just into three. let each tribe decide what is best for them. If we want to break along ethnic or tribal line, the best for us all. Afterall, the more than 200 ethnic/tribal groups were independent and autonomous before the British forcefully brought us together. so let each tribe decide for themselves what is better for them.
DeleteThat is a good idea, I don't think anybody should against that, let each region control her own resources and develope her own region.the problem of trabalism will be minimized.
ReplyDeleteGood,this just the way out.
ReplyDeleteThe hausa muslims will never agree to this because all they are interested in is oil money from the south south. Wicked n selfish people.
ReplyDeleteThe demand is quite laudable, dependable and forward looking. The Conference should seriously look at the demand and make adjustments here and there for the sake of prosperity and good governance. There is no sense in forcing a marriage that would not work. The over a hundred years of marriage is breeding hatred and confusion in the entire federation. I would like to see Nigeria intact and indivisible as it were, but the power that be, would not allow it to effectively function. In passing, let us try the old regional administration and see how it would move the country forward. Undoubtedly, Nigeria needs competition and challenges from all ethnic groups and that is why the federation should reduce the power from the federal government to the states. Each states, as of right, should have its own police force as is the practice in advanced countries. The military should be under the federal administration as it is the practice in advanced countries. Supply of electricity should be the responsibility of states administration not the federal government. Let us learn from our past experiences and move the country forward.
ReplyDelete