Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has declared that a constitutional amendment that accommodates resource control and state police will give Nigerians a fair deal.
He therefore said the time has come for lawmakers at the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to have a robust debate on the two issues.
Governor Makinde said this in his keynote address at the Conference of Presiding Officers of Nigeria Legislature, entitled: “Imperatives of Constitutional Amendments”, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.
The Oyo State governor further said that such debate, both at the federal and state legislatures, has become imperative, irrespective of political affiliations.
Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also averred that democratic governance must ensure equitable service delivery.
He said if the lawmakers rigorously debate and come up with answers on these two issues, which are capable of giving Nigerians a fair deal on all counts, they will go into the annals of history as the best Assembly Session ever.
He added that Nigerians are demanding that their governors play the role of Chief Security Officers of their respective states, noting that the introduction of state police would help in curbing insecurity in the state and across the country.
Governor Makinde also used the opportunity to commend the members of the National Assembly and state legislatures for ensuring that true democracy continues to evolve in Nigeria by delivering the Electoral Act 2022 to Nigeria.
He said: “Thank you for inviting me to be part of this event to present the keynote address on an issue that is very dear to my heart.
“Last year, I presented a version of this keynote address on the occasion of the Democracy Day Summit held as part of our two years in office celebrations.
“Then, and now, I will be hinging the discussion on one very important aspect of the Nigerian constitutional amendment, which seems to have eluded the nation.
“But before I delve into this, let me first appreciate you, members of the National Assembly and the state legislature, for the role you are playing in ensuring that true democracy continues to evolve in Nigeria.”
Makinde thanked the legislature for delivering the new Electoral Act 2022 to Nigerians, adding that, though it might not yet be Uhuru, but it is a step in the right direction.
The governor urged the legislators to pay closer attention to some of the neglected conversations around constitutional amendments.
Makinde said: “The various agitations that have rocked our nation over the years, including the more recent EndSARS protests and the rise of banditry and terrorism, are all reasons for the legislature to pay closer attention to some of the neglected conversations around constitutional amendments and reforms.
“Yes, each new Assembly embarks on constitutional amendments, but the major reforms that will finally address many of the concerns that Nigerians have regarding how our nation works are often ignored.
“These conversations have become like the elephant in the room. Everyone knows it is there, but no one wants to acknowledge it.
“But the thing about elephants is that they can’t be ignored for too long, they will move, and when they move, we will be forced to confront them.
“We don’t have to wait to be forced to take action. Actions that are taken under pressure and without due consultation often fail to accomplish desired objectives.
“And so, it is high time the twin issues of resource control and state police are subjected to robust debate at the legislature.
“I believe that any Assembly that puts those two issues up for rigorous debate and gives Nigerians a fair deal on all counts will go down in history as the best assembly ever.
“If you read the pulse of the nation, you will see that everyone is tired of the status quo, and they are ready for new vistas.
“Nigerians are demanding that their governors play the role of Chief Security Officers of their states. They are asking that the governors be empowered to run the security architecture of their states.”
Makinde pointed out how the South-West governors’ decision to heed the people’s call resulted in the creation of the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps, stating that the initiative has brought relief to the people.
He said: “Here in the South-West, the governors came together to create an alternative that would support the efforts of the federal security agencies through the Western Nigeria Security Network. The people can see for themselves how things are working out. The Amotekun Corps has brought relief to them.
“Having seen the success recorded by the Amotekun Corps in a little over a year of operations here in Oyo State, we took a step to strengthen them further.
“We are recruiting 500 more members – we started with 1,500 corps members. I must say this is by far the largest number in any state in the South-West.
“Just yesterday [Friday], we supplied them with an additional 100 operational vehicles. The people are happy about this because they can see the work that Amotekun is doing. So, there is no better time than now to discuss state police,” Makinde added.
On the need to also engage in a robust discourse on resource control, the governor further said: “There is an ongoing national conversation about equity and fairness.
“We have seen the press release figures that show that it is just a few states that are contributing to the Value Added Tax (VAT), which everyone is sharing. We have long talked about the states that are producing the oil that we all are sharing proceeds from.
“Everyone has seen how some states do not even make an effort to raise their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) because they are comfortable with receiving federal allocations from work done by others.
“But now that the receipts are dwindling, even those states are waking up to the conversation and asking if they can keep what they make.
“Can there be a better time to discuss resource control constitutional amendments are a must. They are a big reason why we have the legislative arm of government.
“As time passes, new generations are born, and new conversations emerge. We must, as a people, be ready to move with the times. This is the only way to move forward.
“So, as you meet, I hope you can raise these thorny issues that have eluded those who came before you. You may not be able to resolve them, but you would, at least, acknowledge that there is an elephant in the room. This is an important first step.”
Earlier, in his welcome address, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin, appreciated the participants in the first edition of the quarterly general meeting of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria.
He further said the theme of the meeting, “is apt and germane to the development of our nation.”
He explained that the Nigerian Legislature is poised to play its part in bringing fruition to the agitations of millions of Nigerians on the need for alterations to the 1999 Constitution.
Also, in his goodwill message, Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman, appreciated Governor Makinde for hosting the First Quarter (2022) General Meeting of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria.
