The Founding National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief Bisi Akande has advocated devolution of power to enhance economic growth, tackle insecurity, unemployed rate and calls for secession.
Chief Akande make this known in Ado Ekiti at a public presentation of Book on Senator Ayo Fasanmi titled “Service With Integrity”
Represented by a Former Deputy Governor in Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Tomori, Chief Akande observed that too much of concentration of power at the central often promote insecurity and other factors affecting the economic growth and meaningful development.
The APC National Leader explained that during the era of regional government, Nigeria witnessed rapid development, especially in the southwest region.
“Let me also put quite simply, devolution is the allocation, transfer or delegation of power or authority by laws from a central government to subnational units, such as regional, state, or local government.”
He said that “the purpose of such devolution generally is to bring the government closer to the people so that problems of security, poverty, and agitation for self-actualization could be reduced or better handled”.
Chief Akande explained “further that Federating units or subsidiary units were usually the theatre of action. That’s where you have the land, the forests, the farms, the schools, the hospitals, the manufacturing industries and even the roads and the citizens together with daily economic and social activities”.
“Take education, for example. What business has the Federal Government to engage in primary and secondary education? These schools are located in the states and their local governments. It is in these schools that pupils are socialized into their local culture through their language, customs, and patterns of social interaction. It is important here to note that US Department of Education does not establish schools or colleges and does not determine curricula or even educational standards. Rather, it focuses on establishing and implementing policies on financial aid for education; collecting and disseminating data on American schools, prohibiting discriminations; and focusing national attention on key educational issues, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.
Chief Akande also advocated the decentralization of Policing to state and local governments in order to enhance the security of lives and property, saying that this would to easily detect criminal elements in the society.
“Again, the United States provides an excellent example. It has the most decentralized police system in the world. True, there are central police and investigation agencies at the federal level, such as the FBI and the CIA; but there are also police agencies controlled by states, counties, boroughs, municipalities, cities, towns, and villages. Even university campuses, hospitals, parks, fire stations, etc. have their own police units. That is why it is easy to detect crime and bring criminals to book as quickly as possible”.
While describing Senator Ayo Fasanmi as a great leader who had contributed immensely to the peace, unity and development of Nigeria, Chief Akande said “the biological and political children of late Senator Fasanmi were here to celebrate his past. When the roll is called among those who care passionately for Nigeria and its happier and united future, I want to be counted among them as Senator Ayo Fasanmi is now being recognized at a befitting ceremony”
On his part, the Book Reviewer and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor Kayode Soremeku who described the book as timely, said it speaks volumes on the political life of Senator Ayo Fasanmi and the impeccable integrity and humility of the elder Stateman,
Professor Soremeku used the occasion to call on leaders to emulate the good characters of Senator Ayo exhibited when he was in power.
The FUOYE former Vice Chancellor however called on federal government to find a lasting solution to some of the challenges in Education sector, especially the prolonged strike by University Unions.
Professor Soremeku who maintained that education play a pivot role in building a virile society, noted that government should be more concerned about tertiary education in order to make Nigeria great.
He pointed out that most of the challenges bedeviling the country were traceable to individual’s failure, especially leaders in each sector of the economy, with a call on leaders to always be solution providers for the sake of posterity.
On their parts, Authors of the Book, “Serving With Integrity” written in honour of late Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Dr Orobola Fasehun and Dr Olufunmilayo Fasehun said they wrote the book out of the inspiration of good legacy that Senator Ayo Fasanmi left behind.
Dr. Funmilayo Fasehun who is a daughter of Senator Ayo Fasanmi said that the good characters of her father and the book should be the template for the current and budding politicians in Nigeria.
Some of those who spoke on the occasion including the
Representative of National Leaders of Afenifere, Chief Iyiola Oladokun who is also a former Deputy Governor, Oyo state and Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi described Senator Ayo Fasanmi as a man of integrity worthy of emulation.
The book launch was attended by political leaders from Ekiti, Osun, Ogun, Ondo including former Speaker Osun state, Akintunde Adegboye, the Oniye of Iye Ekiti Oba Jonathan Adeleye, and people from all walks of life.
By Oriola Afolabi
