By Morayo Omolade
Akure – Chief Olu Falae has advised the Federal Government to initiate the process of implementing the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference on true federalism to enhance national development.
Falae, a former Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure on Wednesday.
He said that Nigeria should return to 1959 Constitution where every unit in the country was given the power to control its resources and develop at its own pace.
According to him, every state should be allowed to have its constitution, build its railway, and ports among others to spur economic development in the country.
A system whereby all the powers are concentrated at the centre would not bring development, rather it would bring about inefficiency, corruption, insecurity and stunted growth, Falae said.
“The present system we are operating in the country now can be regarded as a lock up system,’’ he said.
He said that Nigeria could not develop or move forward unless “we unlock ourselves’’.
“Let us return to the golden age of 1959. This is on the basis that engendered the various ethnic groups to form federalism.
“Constitutional changes are going on all over the world. Britain is now operating true federalism. We should not be managing change until it becomes unmanageable change,’’ he said.
Falae, who was the leader of the South West appointed delegates in the conference, said that the adoption of true federalism was a general consensus of the delegates in the country.
He said that the conference adopted more than 600 resolutions by consensus and the decisions could give Nigeria lease of life, progress and development.
According to him, true federalism will bring about healthy competitions among the federating units and enhance unity and friendship among them.
He said that the only solution to the crisis in the Niger Delta region was to recognise the peculiarities of each unit by granting considerable autonomy to each region.
According to him, inappropriateness of the political structure is fundamental to the crisis in the Niger Delta.
