Olusola Oke joins call for restructuring Nigeria, devolution of power

Chief Olusola Oke, a governorship candidate in the last year November governorship election in Ondo State has lend his voice to the call for the restructuring of Nigeria to enable the federating states assume more powers in the control of its own resources.

Mr. Oke said restructuring the country would help enhance efficiency and also block wastages and promote prudent management among the federating states.

He also said there should be devolution of power among the three tiers of the government in the country while arguing that the concentration of much power on the central government is affecting Nigeria’s growth and progress.

Oke spoke on Sunday after attending a public event held in Ipele, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo state.

He disclosed that true federalism is simply the best system that could be put in place in the country to win the mindset of some agitators calling for the division of the country for a personal mission.

“I am one of those clamouring for the restructuring of the country and it will help Nigeria because there is too much over there on the Federal Government.

“Let there be fiscal federalism where more responsibility will be given to the component states and more money and where they will be more accountable to the people because of proximity.”

He maintained that the federating states should find an urgent means of sitting down to deliberate on how to agree on the sharing of its resources in order for the development of their regions to take effect.

Oke said this would also help instigate healthy rivalry and competition among the states while stressing that it would help each component develop in line with its contribution or its gains.

“I think what we have at the moment is a unitary federalism which is not in the heterogeneous interest of Nigeria.

“Multinational countries like this federalism are the best and the federalism conceived by our forefathers is not what we are practising now.

“All parts of the country were excelling in what they have comparative advantage on, and it helps.

“Everybody will develop according to what is available that was what is in the 1960s when derivation was at the front burner.”

He later described the passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill by the senate as a right and good development for the country.

According to him, it would afford young Nigerians who can be held responsible for their criminal actions to also seek elective positions in the country.

“It is a welcome development. Anybody who can be made criminally accountable for his actions should also be given the position of responsibility.”