Obasanjo urges devolution of power, resources to states, amid economic crisis

Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for the devolution of power and resources from the federal government to states and local governments as a means to address the ongoing economic crisis plaguing the nation.

Obasanjo attributed the current crisis to a lack of productivity among Nigerians and the mismanagement of resources.

Speaking at the public presentation of the book “Court and Politics,” authored by Dr. Umar Ardo, Obasanjo underscored the need to decentralize power and resources to enhance effective resource management at the grassroots level.

Represented by former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, Obasanjo advocated the devolution of power and resources to states and local governments, suggesting that such decentralization would reduce competition at the federal level and promote better management of available resources.

Stressing the importance of devolving power and resources, Obasanjo stated, “24 years of practicing the presidential system are not enough.

“The important thing is to devolve power and resources to the states and certain jobs from the federal to states and local governments.”

Meanwhile, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the Chairman of the committee for the book launch and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), expressed concerns about challenges in Nigerian politics and the electoral process. He criticized the tendency of courts to base their judgments on technicalities rather than the facts of the issues at hand.

Gabam emphasized the need for Nigerians to unite and courageously demand accountability from authorities, asserting that avoiding cowardice is essential in finding solutions to the nation’s problems.

He highlighted the inherent contradiction between the Independent National Electoral Commission’s responsibility to conduct elections and the Judiciary’s role in determining election outcomes.