Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole adds his voice to the controversial issue of revenue allocation
Edo state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole has added his voice to the debate on the controversial revenue allocation due to states in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday, February 9, at the book launch of Chief Mike Ozekhome (S.A.N) at the Yar’adua centre, Abuja, Oshiomole decried the fact that the entire 36 states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is entitled to 26% of the revenue allocation while the 52% is retained in Abuja.
He said: ”The entire 36 state governors and the FCT manages half of what Abuja takes, but the constitution makes it clear that the status quo can change every five years.
”It is now 17 years, that section of the constitution is been serially abused. When will the human rights community protest? When will Senior Advocates of Nigeria protest?,”Oshiomole lamented.
He continued: ”Let the state be the agency of development in Nigeria. I will gladly join in a protest to the National Assembly and Aso Rock to demand better allocation to states.
”The business of carrying placards is not only for the poor,’‘ he concluded.
Oshiomole was reacting to the submission of the book reviewer and a former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Olisa Agbakoba (S.A.N).
According to Agbakoba, Nigeria is not a federation which is why zoning to unzone is a major issue in the country.
He said: ”90% of our problems are located in Abuja constitutionally, because our politicians have been unable to manage our diversity.
”Our diversity is not a curse. The United Kingdom is as diverse as Nigeria, but as it is, Nigeria is not a nation.”
Agbakoba also berated politicians in the country for not getting it right, even as he called on the legislature to ”repair the federation.”
He also called on the Muhammadu Buhari administration to look into the 2014 National Conference organised by the Goodluck Jonathan government as according to him, every National Conference held till date in Nigeria has addressed the issue of federation adequately.
Among those who graced the event yesterday were the governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, who was the chief host; the former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim, who represented the chairman of the occasion, Senator Ken Nnamani, a former Senate president; the minister of science and technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu and Abia state deputy governor, Sir Ude Okochukwu, who represented his boss.
Other eminent personalities present were the former minister of justice, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide; Senator Shehu Sani, Senator Bode Olajumoke, a former minority whip at the House of Representatives, Honourable Samson Osagie; veteran actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, senior lawyers, Chief Wole Olaonipekun (S.A.N) and Chief Awa Kalu (S.A.N).
Agbakoba had in a recent interview with a national newspaper, said Nigeria needs to see a new federal system.
He recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari propose a bill for an act or set up a small technical committee on national order.
Source : NAIJ
No comments:
Post a Comment