Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
The Chairman of a Yoruba socio-political group, Atayese, Tokunbo Ajasin, son of the former Governor of Ondo State, Adekunle Ajasin has called for immediate restructuring of Nigeria stressing that until Nigeria is restructured into a fully federal system, the various socio-political problems facing the country would not be resolved.
Ajasin who spoke at the review of the groups constitution as part of activities to prepare it for the new challenge also called for a new constitution for the nation rather than reviewing the existing one in use adding that despite its various amendments, the Nigerian constitution still operates on the principles handed down by the military.
While attributing the country’s problems to the anomalies rooted in the current c
onstitution which gives the Federal Government more power in terms of resource control at the expense of the states, Ajasin lamented that the situation has rendered many states ineffective in bringing development to the people.
He condemned the present situation whereby states that generate income for the Federal Government were made to look up to the Federal Government for allocations to impact on the people.
According to him, “Nigeria needs a new constitution to replace our current flawed one. The current constitution does not reflect the spirit of true federalism. Part of the challenges facing the country is constitutional. The constituting body should be the one financing the central body but the current arrangement is not so. Every state should have their own wealth and create it by using their natural resources. I think the country needs to go back to the regional government. Without restructuring Nigeria into a fully federal state, we will continue to have the same series of problems. The constitution we are still using typifies the one handed over by the military and cannot help the country resolve its numerous challenges”.