Obasanjo, Prof Ango Advocate Devolving Power, Resources To States

A former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Prof Ango Abdullahi and others have said the current economic crisis in the country is because of a lack of productivity among Nigerians and mismanagement of of resources.

They called for devolution of powers and resources from the federal government to states and local governments to ensure effective management of resources and reduce competition at the centre.
Obasanjo, who was represented by the former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, spoke as a guest of honour at the public presentation of a book; “Court and Politics,” authored by Dr. Umar Ardo. The book chronicled the first-hand experience of the author in politics and the courts.
Ardo was the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last election in Adamawa State and recently lost his bid to annul the election of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
Prof. Abdullahi threw his weight behind moves by some lawmakers to return Nigeria to the parliamentary system of government.

He said it was glaring that the presidential system had failed Nigeria; hence, the country should be returned to a parliamentary system which he said was better for the nation.

Obasanjo, however, disagreed with Ago Abdullahi on the call for return to the parliamentary system, noting that what is needed is attitudinal and political culture to strengthen the system.

He said contributions were based on two key issues: productivity and political culture.

Obasanjo noted that the foundation of any economy is the productivity of the sum total of the nation’s people and its resources, saying everybody is lamenting that the economy had gone under because the productivity had never been there.

Former chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, called for judicial reform, arguing that the judiciary as presently constituted had failed the country.