Anyaoku, Makinde, Olukotun call for decentralization of Nigerian system, state police to engender good governance

…. Anyaoku urges politicians to desist from abusive utterances during 2023 campaigns

From Ogundele Olanrewaju

A former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Director, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Adetona Institute of Governance Studies,Department of Political Science,Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Prof. Ayo Olukotun and others , yesterday, called for the decentralization of the country’s structure and state policing system to engender good governance.

They made the call at the 11th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Awards/ Lecture Series on Good Governance Organised by the Youth Affairs International Foundation at IACD Library and Resource Centre, Ibadan which had the theme: “Imperative of Good Governance in Nigeria”.

Ayanoku pointed out that the present system would not lead the country anywhere near its dreams, adding decentralizing the c management of security to much more manageable was imperative.

Anyaoku said:”I will urge my compatriots to study the manifesto that they will produce carefully and vote for those they believe will carry out their promises.
Speaking on our present governance system because the system is crucial for the revolution and production of the country.”

“I am old enough to say that Nigeria in the early years of our independence, Nigeria before the entry of the military to our government, Nigeria has remained as it was then before the military system came. Nigeria would have been a different country right now.”

”Nigeria was slightly ahead of Malaysia in development. Nigeria was as far as South Korea in development but look at those countries where they are today and where Nigeria is today. Nigeria is more than one generation behind.”

“Why has that come to be? I believe it has come to be because of its system of governance that we have, we have a system of government which does not suit the multi diverse countries like ours, we were then in a multi-mobiable four federation but against the 36 plus the federal capital that we now have.

“In my view the present system will not lead us anywhere, where achieving the country of our dream. We need a pure federating system which will be more variable than what we have now. Because what we have now may be easier for us not to have a true federation in a country of our diversity.

“And so I will say that I am speaking over 30 years with the governance of the fifty-four member countries, each country choosing a system that will best serve their interest.

“The country that I would like to look at in terms of its system is not the United States of America, because it is centrally an immigrant population country, Nigeria on the other hand is a country of units that have existed for centuries of their own with their own culture and manner of behaviour.”

”We need a system like India’s has done. India is a diverse country although when you see them abroad you think they are urban homogeneous, but they are very diverse. I have traveled around and I can tell you that the diversity of India is being successful because the state of India is being largely autonomous in terms of those important aspects of dealing with security.

”Because in dealing with Security, security is crucial in development. You don’t have security, you will be able to attack foreign investors and hardly any countries these days without development being able to attract foreign investors”.

He urged Nigerians to vote only leaders that will make promises to prioritizing the revamping of the Nigerian system.

Olukotun, who spoke on the theme: ”Nigeria’s Elusive Search for Good Governance”, said If good governance must return to Nigeria, the country must be decentralized the octopus by bringing state police.

The professor said,”We need to decentralize and include state police in our system.

”We cannot seriously talk of good governance as long as overspending, duplication of offices and personnel which have become governmental pastimes prevail.

“Rationality must be brought to bare on public sector finances, encompassing the husbanding of our resources to achieve maximum results. A situation where Nigeria now borrows to service debts is most unhealthy and does not contribute to good governance. Obviously, something has gone awry. Our security institutions are in need of re-formulation so that they become more result-oriented, capable and savvy. For too long, they have yielded ground to bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and the likes. In spite of a new offensive by security institutions, the coast is not yet clear, and much remains to be done.

”This cannot happen in the absence of decentralization in the shape of state police. The formation of militias in several states around the country, such as Amotekun, Benue State Volunteer Force, Ebubeagu; point to the failure of an over-centralized policing system. It is time to take the necessary constitutional steps to redesign the architecture of national security.

‘That is not all. The long deferred restructuring agenda must now come on board despite the fact that sadly the constitutional review exercise just undertaken hardly mentioned or allowed for it. This is an agenda that the next President must take very seriously. Moreover, renewed attention must be paid to human capital development and the creation of a skilled workforce comprising trained Nigerians, technologically equipped, who can get jobs anywhere in the world.

“The competitiveness of our educational system at all levels is in serious doubt and we must do more than rejig the system in order to bring it up to par with contemporary trends and developments. Due attention needs to be paid to electoral integrity and the sanctity of our elections. Far too often, elections are decided by the courts and not by the people. The increasingly litigious character of our elections, accompanied by huge civil strifes, is a pointer that we are yet to get our acts right in this direction.

”Good governance begins with the right of the people to choose how they are governed and by who. The Independent National Electoral Commission has made some advances, technologically driven, in recent years. We need to consolidate the gains they have made in the direction of free, fair and credible elections. Furthermore, to enthrone the rule of law and privilege human rights, the judiciary must undergo further reforms as well as be granted its hallowed place in our emerging democracy. If we go this road, we will truly have begun the journey out of the woods and in the direction of redemptive governance”.

On his part, Makinde pointed out that decentralization, state police and local government autonomy are very germane in the country .

A former National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who was the chairman on the occasion lauded the efforts Anyaoku in ensuring peaceful transition in 2015.

Another guest lecturer, Dr. Uchay Odims said Nigerians, especially the youths needed to take back their country by voting right in 2023.