True federalism, panacea to security challenges – Mimiko

[MrVan]

By DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE – GOVERNOR  Olusegun Mimiko, weekend, said that the resurgence of incessant criminal activities in some parts of the country could only be effectively curbed if Nigeria embraces the practice of true federalism.

Mimiko said this while addressing participants at the 9th All-Yoruba Youth Conference organised by Coalition of Oodua Self-Determination Groups  in Akure.

He said true federalism would encourage devolution of powers from the Federal Government to states and local councils and would guarantee effective policing.

The governor expressed concern that the Federal Government had not been able to curtail the activities of gunmen in the northern part of the country because external security agents were drafted there.

Mimiko lamented the extent of carnage and destruction of valuable private and public property by the gunmen, stressing that the perpetrators and their sponsors would have been identified and arrested if the security agents on their trail were members of their community.

He urged relevant arms of government to work towards achieving true federalism in the country to guarantee effective security of life and property and peaceful co-existence.

He said: "True federalism is practicable and achievable in our country. What the federal authorities need do is to devolve necessary powers to states in terms of security and resource control.

"Each of the states should be in control of the security of their area while the federal authorities should empower them economically to tackle any man-made, natural or environmental challenge.

"To start with, the subsidy funds should be disbursed to states and local governments to address critical areas like security, healthcare, food security, infrastructure, education and environmental degradation, among others."

The governor challenged his colleagues in the southwest to focus more on projects and programmes that would benefit the majority of the masses and make the people the centre of development.

He said, "As political office holders, egalitarianism should be our watchword. We should follow the footsteps of our great leader and political icon, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose programmes centred on the people.

"We should use instrumentality of government to liberate our people. We should develop the people by investing heavily in public education, and offer them quality healthcare.

"We need to empower our women and youths because they are the true drivers of development. We also need to pay attention to technology, which is another sector that can give the Yoruba nation, an edge."

Mimiko also stressed the need for community policing to complement the current efforts of the various security outfits in the country.

Chairman of the group  Mr. Dayo Ogunlana, said the immediate convocation of a Sovereign National Conference was necessary to resolve the current crisis in the country.

He said, "There is no doubt that the resolution of the Nigerian crisis is hinged on geniuine restructuring based on devolution of powers, fiscal federalism, justice and equity in a parliamentary democracy."

Vanguard Nigeria