Progressives Governors Forum DG calls on government to be proactive in restructuring
By Aanya Igomu, Abuja
The Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum, Mr Salihu Lukman says the Nigerian government needs to take proactive steps in restructuring the country in order to end major challenges, such as, ethnic hatred and insecurity.
Mr Lukman who stated this in a press release said the All Progressives Congress, APC as the party in government is in the best position to effect the change.
He said the APC government should start the process of restructuring by implementing the Nasir El-Rufai Committee’s report on True Federalism.
Mr Lukman noted that the report addresses 13 major areas of governance which he said would address the problem of weak government institutions and insecurity.
“In discharging its mandate, the Committee identified thirteen (13) issues based on the review of reports of National Conferences, including the 2005 National Political Reform Conference and the 2014 National Conference.
“ The 13 issues identified are – Creation of States, merger of States, Derivation Principle, Devolution of Powers, Federating Units, Fiscal Federalism & Revenue Allocation, Form of Government, Independent Candidacy, Land Tenure System, Local Government Autonomy, Power Sharing & Rotation, Resource Control and Type of Legislature,” he said.
Mr. Lukman called on APC to overcome its current passive attitude of addressing issues of restructuring.
“APC leaders need to overcome the current lethargic attitude against initiatives for true federalism or restructuring. Although, no matter what any political leader is able to concede, there will always be the strong presence of political demands by ethnic groups, it is important to appeal to our leaders to consider the bigger picture, which is about responding to national challenges and strengthening the capacity of governance institutions in the country to serve Nigerians.
“Inability to address issues of ethnic tension in the country has continued to inflame all manner of political crisis in the country. Coupled with widespread systematic weakening of governance institutions, especially on matters of guaranteeing the security of lives and property of Nigerians, issues of role of political leaders in addressing the challenge became a major political issue,” Mr Lukman explained.
He said the problem of insurgency in the North East and the spate of suicide bombings by boko haram terrorists between 2010 and 2015 compounded the task of managing ethnic relations thereby creating serious security challenge in the country.
Before 2015, the boko haram insurgents were controlling most parts of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States. Weak response and excessive politicisation of our national security challenges under the Jonathan administration, including the false accusation that opposition politicians were sponsoring boko haram, lower the approval rating of the Jonathan administration in the country, which significantly contributed to its defeat in 2015.
“Ethnic profiling in the country is a moving target both in terms of the trigger and the ethnic group affected. At different times, virtually all our major ethnic groups were profiled in relation to crimes committed by Nigerians identified to be from particular ethnic groups.
He says the Problems associated with ethnic profiling get compounded by problems of injustice as a result of repressive circumstances especially during periods of military rule.
Confidence Okwuchi
