Return Nigeria To Regional Govt, Lawmaker Begs Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to take Nigeria back to Regional System of Government if the country must get things right.

A lawmaker representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Chinedu Joshua Obika made the call in his office when he received a delegation of the African Child’s Right Marshals in Abuja.

He said the careless attitude of most elective and appointive leaders had left some sectors and parts of the country in a deteriorating situation which is a signal that the center can no longer manage Nigeria.

Obika explained that operating a Regional System of Government will promote effective supervision and monitoring of the abundant natural resources that abound in the country, rather than leaving everything at the centre without proper checks and balance.

He expressed worry that Nigeria as a country had always focused more on revenue from crude oil, leaving out other vital natural resources for foreigners to explore and export to other countries for a token, or at no cost.

“I don’t even know what to say, Nobody is doing his job. Everybody is after what they can get. The Local Government Administration is dead. People come to us(National Assembly). If it were when local governments were working, we would have the shield that we could focus on legislation.”

“Do you know the cure of this country, we must go back to the regions, so that there will be healthy competition… This is what I expect President Tinubu to do because he had been a proponent of regional government.

“If we go into regions, the regions should be allowed to manage their resources. Every region will start fighting those exploiting, collecting their resources.

“Who is monitoring that Chinese man that carries raw materials from kano ? but all eyes are on crude oil. Because when it is a central government, nobody cares. There will be more connivance to steal and loot the treasury of the country.

“There is no other better person that can bring back the Regional Government, but President Tinubu. We have to go back to the regions, because if we don’t go, the Central Government cannot manage Nigeria.

“In the States, our Governors have become Lords and Demi- gods. So, when you regionalize it, the Governors will function under Regional Goverment, and there will be more check and balance, Obika assured. ”

The member representing AMAC/ Bwari Federal Constituency also advocated vocational education system in tertiary institutions, which he described as ‘training and certification of citizens in skillful handwork’ that could put food on their table after six months, rather than churning out University graduates in none-lucrative courses year in, year out that the country has no ready jobs for.

“In Nigeria, we should stop laying too much emphasis on University education because, those graduates, where are they? They are paid thirty- five thousand naira to serve as waiters in restaurants and beer parlours, that’s where they end after four, five years of a parent’s struggle.

“Is it not better to start incorporating vocational skills in our curriculum? Teaching catering services, welding, bricklaying, electrical, heating, and cooling systems, you come out in six months, and you are issued a certificate as a trained professional, and you are paid.”

“These are jobs to do, instead of spending 5 years in University only to come out and be receiving 35,000 naira.

Obika was also of the opinion that it is high time Nigerians stopped religious sentiments and ethnic bigotry when choosing leaders and start holding their leaders accountable on promises made.

“Vote for people that can bring something to the table. Campaigns should be this is what I want to do, not, you know am your brother.What has brothership got to do with leadership? What do you have on the table, what are you offering? What’s your idea? When somebody contesting say i will do roads, water etc, the question we should ask is where will they get the money? Obika questioned.

Obika further promised to provide any support within his power to the African Child’s Right Marshals to ensure that the rights of children in Africa were protected.

Earlier, the Commandant General of the African Child’s Right Marshals, Comrade Philips Ugo, commended the lawmaker’s integrity and humanitarian efforts, especially his support for schools and school age children, which he said attracted him to the lawmaker.

Comrade Ugo solicited the lawmaker’s support for the Group.

He also presented an award of excellence to the lawmaker for his notable impactful contributions to the people at the grassroots.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji