As the committee on Political restructuring and form of government began sitting yesterday, campaigns for regional government by some delegates from the South west and South east have divided the committee as delegates from the Northern part of the country were not comfortable with the position.
It was generally agreed that states should be created by the committee members and also resolved that there should be a central government to have states as federation unites while local governments exist only under the state governments.
In his argument, Yinka Odumakin, a delegate from the South-west suggested that states should be created under an independent regional government so as to address some of the imbalances in some regions.
Another delegate from South west, Pastor Tunde Bakare, reminded the committee members that once upon a time there was nothing like federation units but regions.
He supported the argument that the present federation should remain, adding that the issue of geopolitical zones should not be jettisoned.
Also, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, said that already the federal government is using the system of regional government in the distribution of the country’s wealth, appointments and others, saying even some of the delegates ended up at the conference based on the quality of their region.
He therefore urged the committee to recommend that zones should be recognised and formalised in the constitution.
Responding, a Northern delegate, Sen. Mohammad Aruwa, alleged that the South east delegates were selfish in their position for regional government, saying, it is only in the South west that people speak only one language.
Another delegate from Kano, Mallam Sule Hamma, expressed worry over the campaign for regional government by the south west delegates. He asked the Yoruba delegates to state in writing how other regions will benefit from regional government.
