Ladipo Adamolekun, a professor of public administration, says President Bola Tinubu should consider the decentralisation of power to regional governments.
Speaking in Akure, the Ondo capital, during the unveiling of his 37th book, titled “Reflections on Governance and Development in Nigeria,” Adamolekun argued that such a move would ease tensions and promote development across the country.
Adamolekun described the establishment of development commissions and a federal ministry of regional development by Tinubu’s administration as counterproductive to development.
He suggested that the president should employ the same method used to change the national anthem to reallocate functions and resources between the central and subnational governments.
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“If it is not already too late, I would strongly advise the incumbent president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to use the same method he used to effect the change of our national anthem to ensure the reallocation of functions and resources between the central and subnational governments in the country,” he said.
“Specifically, I would recommend a 35:65 percent share formula for the central and subnational governments, respectively, with respect to both powers and resources. Of course, the proposed percentages of sharing would be subject to debate.
“However, to ensure a peaceful and well-performing Nigerian federal system, the share of subnational governments must be significantly higher than that of the central government with respect to both powers and resources.”
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The international scholar noted that there is no other way to achieve peace and rapid socio-economic development than devolving power to subnational governments.
He argued that the regions cannot be meaningfully developed from Abuja, where most powers and resources are concentrated.
“Now, some people want to keep the 36 states, but I advocated six regions. You cannot develop Nigeria from Abuja. Does that make sense to anybody? It is clear,” he said.
“So, your ministry of regional development, where is it? Abuja! Your development commissions, where are they run from? Abuja!
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“So, there is no country in the world, India is a clear example of a federal system that functions as a result of the centre not being the driver. It coordinates and gives some direction, but development comes below.
“You remember what happened in the old regions; today everybody wants to go to just one party.
“Whoever controls the centre, that’s where they want to go. So, it is not a question of a personal opinion.
“It is based on realities for peace, political diversity, and ethnic diversity.
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“When we had those regions, there had been threats of breakaway, but then the leaders got together and said, ‘Let us have a devolved federal system,’ and it worked.
“The best example I can tell you, one of the best in the world, is Awolowo’s devolved leadership in the West. Any political leader who wants to succeed must focus on implementation, the capacity to implement, to deliver.”
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