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| Govs of Kebbi, Plateau, and Sokoto at the event. Photo credit: Imam Imam |
to support devolution of powers in the country, saying the federal
government should transfer some aspects of health, transport, fire
service among others to the states while it focuses on defence, foreign
affairs, security and currency.
position of Sokoto as presented by former deputy governor Chiso
Abdullahi, rejected the creation of new states, saying many states in
the country at the moment are not viable.
He
advocated that the presidential system and fiscal federalism should be
maintained as enshrined in the constitution while power rotation and
zoning should be maintained to foster national unity.
He
also advocated for a unicameral legislature while traditional
institutions should be given advisory role in the constitution.
also highlighted that revenue allocation should be shared on the basis
of 43 percent for the federal government, 35 percent for states and 23
percent for local government councils.
Kebbi
state on the other hand, rejected the creation of new states and
bicameral legislature while zoning should be practised between North and
South.
Kebbi
also advocated for a revenue sharing formula with federal government
having 40 percent, states 40 percent and local government areas 20
percent.
It
also canvassed for devolution of powers whereby the federal government
should transfer some aspects that will be better handled by the states.
Zamfara
state presented its position at the meeting while insisting that the
statusquo should be maintained on issues of state creation, derivation,
devolution of powers, presidential system of government and land tenure
system.
Speaking
at the meeting, the Chairman of the APC Restructuring Committee for
North-west and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, said all the
views collated would be taken back to the APC national headquarters.
“At
the end of the exercise, all the views collated will be analysed and
this will form the opinion of the APC and the federal government,”he
said.
In
his remarks, Sokoto State Governor,Aminu Tambuwal, said the aim of the
public hearing was to collate views of the people on how the country
should be restructured and governed.
He said this would enable the party to have better informed position on the issue whenever it is making its presentation.
Tambuwal commended the APC for its moves to get feedback from the people on the way the country should be governed.
Also
speaking, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, said the North would
not be stampeded into accepting other people’s agenda but would only be
guided by reason.
He noted that some of the issues being clamoured by certain groups in the country were subject to a lot of sentiments.
“Some
of these issues people are clamouring for do not have clear definition.
Some of them are partisan in nature. However, these issues are better
discussed than avoided.
“So, we must not be stampeded or become emotional by the agenda of some group but will only be guided by reason,”he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the modest achievements recorded by the APC across the country
He described the meeting as apt, saying APC was commtted to true federalism as enshrined in the manifestoe of the party.
The
Zamfara State Governor, Abdulazeez Yari, who was represented by the
deputy governor Ibrahim Wakala, said the state was solidly behind the
unity of Nigeria.
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