Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has said that a constitution amendment that addresses devolution of power may be the solution to Nigeria’s problems
Tambuwal said that the myriad difficulties facing the country cannot be solved within the framework of ‘one Nigeria’ as it were.
The governor spoke in Abuja at the commencement at national campaign for the registration of 20 million Nigerians under ‘Project 20 Million’, said that the inability to manage the country’s political differences led to a civil war.
Tambuwal, represented by his Special Adviser on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Hon. Akibu Dalhatu, said the country’s founding fathers were conscious of the complex nature of the country and tried to build an inclusive society where people would have a sense of belonging and enjoy freedom.
According to him, in the First Republic, the different regions developed at their pace and made remarkable achievements.
He said the military intervention in politics reversed the gains of the democratic journey, leading to decades of authoritarianism as well as regression in freedom and good governance.
He added that with the advent of the civil democratic dispensation in 1999, good governance returned to centre-stage.
“But how well have we fared? I would say with all sense of responsibility that it has been a mixed bag. The nation is yet to develop a framework for effective engagement of the citizenry in governance. This must never be done on an ad hoc basis. In the development of government policies, we must factor in citizen participation. Their input gives legitimacy to whatever we are doing,” Tambuwal said.
Tambuwal explained that a constitution amendment that critically addresses the issue of devolution of power may be the long solution to the challenges the nation faces.
“But if we effectively follow our current constitution, which contains the major characteristics of good governance, the tension that has enveloped our country will subside and we shall place our dear nation firmly on the path to sustainable development,” he said.
