Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo

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Restructuring, devolution of power, state policing and economic productivity have been described as the solution to ethnic agitations and dichotomy in Nigeria.
Osun Central Senator and Nigeria’s Senate spokesperson, Dr Ajibola Bashiru disclosed this during a public lecture and opening ceremony of Osun chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Press Week.
Bashiru also advocated a return to parliamentary system and regional government to address ethnic agitations and dichotomy in Nigeria.
He said a return to regional government would solve the political and economic challenges the country is facing.
Delivering a paper on “Tackling ethnic agitations and dichotomy in Nigeria’, the Senator blamed the agitations on over centralization of powers at the centre.
“The inability of the states to meet the needs and aspirations of their ethnic nationalities, coupled with the marginalization at the federal levels, led to the strong feeling of injustice, bitterness and the unfortunate demands for secession.
“Though the ongoing ethnic agitations for political restructuring in Nigeria are not new, they continue to grow and exacerbate in the face of current over centralization of political powers, perceived marginalization, economic deprivation and the absence of political will to address the challenges of nation building, particularly eradicating the ethnic divisions.
“The effect of the over-centralization is that the federating units, that is the states are lacking the necessary powers.
“This will restore the federal structure bequeathed by our founding fathers and reposition the states as federating units in the affairs of public governance”.
On reverting to parliamentary system of government on based on heterogenous composition of the country, Bashiru said power would be evenly spread out with a collegiate executive, than the excessive domiciliation of power in one man under the presidential system.
While speaking on the recent wave of violence culminating from #EndSARS protest, he spoke on the need for State Police to complement the central police command.
A former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Faronbi averred that Nigeria needs a rebirth through a new constitution.
Faronbi berated a situation where the central government has no counterbalancing relationship with the federating units and became so powerful at the detriment of the States.
He said “Nigeria in search of rebirth is in need of a new constitution” but not a secession.
While declaring the Press week open, Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola commended journalists in the State for standing tall to professionalism in spite of daring challenges.
Oyetola who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode, urged journalists to resist all forms of temptation against doing the right thing. “As watchdogs, we must continue to do what is right at all times”.