Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Philippines and veteran broadcaster, Dr Yemi Farounbi, criticised the Federal Government’s stance on local government autonomy on Saturday, describing it as “contrary to federalism.”
Dr Farounbi, who spoke on Fresh 105.9 FM’s radio programme, Political Circuit, argued that President Bola Tinubu’s support for local government autonomy is an attempt to undermine the powers of state governors.
While saying that the Presidency was merely seeking to usurp the powers of the states, Dr Farounbi maintained that the Federal Government should focus on its responsibilities and leave the states to manage their affairs.
Dr Farounbi’s comments came after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of local government autonomy, declaring that it is unconstitutional for state governors to retain and utilise local government’s statutory allocations.
President Tinubu welcomed the ruling, describing it as a victory for democracy and grassroots development.
Dr Farounbi, however, noted that the stance was questionable coming from someone considered to be a federalist.
He said: “My understanding and that of any intelligent man is that the federation is the Federal Government and the federating units.
“The state is the state government plus the local government. But if we are going to have the federal government and the local government, we are going to have a big problem.
“The man I thought would solve it is the one creating problems. I had always believed Tinubu was a federalist. I recall that when we were asking for a sovereign national conference in the days of Babangida, he was there.
“We were all meeting with the leaders and Obas and the last meeting we had was the one we held in Abeokuta, and we had what we call the Yoruba Agenda, talking about true federalism. It was published, distributed and launched at Onikan Stadium. He was there.
“So, I had thought a man who was part of the struggles would be the one to implement this, the man who took Obasanjo to the Supreme Court four times and succeeded in retaining his control over local governments.
“I didn’t expect that he would be the one seeking to take even the little power in the state and the local government to the Centre.
“I have come to a conclusion that, perhaps, nobody loves Nigeria. I think if we are going to get the restructuring, I don’t think it is under this government.
“When Yakubu Gowon created 12 states, he said that each of the states would have powers of the region. That was what he said. We are talking of federating units having powers.
“The fact that a region, as it was called then, had powers to hold 50 per cent of the money it generated. Today, go and read the constitution, it can only own 13 per cent.”
Dr Farounbi concluded that the ruling will create chaos and confusion in the administration of local governments in the country.
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