Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti state, has called for more devolution of powers as a panacea to the multi-faced challenges facing the country .
Fayemi who the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections, made these remarks at the annual lecture series of Leadership Newspapers Group with the theme: “Resetting Nigeria: Culture, Politics, Geography and the Role of Big Ideas.”
ALSO READ: ‘We will build on gains made by Buhari’, Fayemi woos Bauchi APC delegates
Join Our WhatsApp Channel for Exclusive Stories, News Reports, and Engaging Content. {Click Here}
He also reaffirmed his stance that Nigeria needed “an all-round reset”, necessary for national rebirth, considering its plethora of challenges.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Governor of Gombe State, Muhammad Inua Yahaya; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed and Minister of the FCT, Mohammed Musa Bello.
ALSO READ: Fayemi joins bloated pool of aspirants in 2023 presidential race
He said greater attention should be beamed on issues such as strengthening the Local Government system, devolution of more powers over internal security, decentralisation of the polity, and the adoption of fiscal federalism which would be fair to all.
He said “I would like to suggest that there are many domains of a national reset which we need to pay attention to than we have done before. These include deepening of the decentralisation of the polity, the strengthening of the local government system, the devolution of more powers over internal safety and security of the states and the adoption of a fairer system of fiscal federalism, the pan-Nigerianisation of citizenship rights on the basis of place of residence, the pursuit of new approaches to diversity management, the autonomisation of the legislative and judicial arms of government, a wholesome reform of the judicial system, the revamp of the civil service for radically more efficient delivery to citizens, and an institutionalised zero-tolerance approach to the fight against corruption.”
ALSO READ: ‘Return our stolen mandate’, Ekiti APC members reject Fayemi’s anointed candidate at convention
According to him, when leadership can understand the challenges and summons the will and courage to surmount them, the belief of Nigerians in the viability of the Nigerian project would become rekindled.
