YCE leaders differ on southern govs’ stance on power devolution

There are conflicting views among the leadership of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) over the Southern Governors Forum’s (SGF) position on devolution of powers.

In a development yesterday, the Senior Elders Forum of the Council opposed the Secretary-General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, who had earlier dismissed the SGF’s call for devolution of power, which the governors suggested should be part of the ongoing constitutional amendment by the National Assembly.

The senior elders of the YCE said the comment did not represent the general views and yearnings of the people in the six states that make up the Southwest.

Olajide was quoted to have said that the structure of Nigeria was highly defective, saying this is why the YCE was against the devolution of powers the governors are talking about.

The secretary-general also said the devolution of powers rarely mean what the Southwest governors are asking for, saying that bringing power to the state and giving local council autonomy is anti-federalism.

However, during an interaction with newsmen in Ibadan yesterday, a former National President of YCE, Dansaaki Samuel Agbede, said despite the remarkable success the governors had recorded in fighting insecurity, some people could still make such uncomplimentary comments.

Agbede said the governors should rather be encouraged for the meritorious efforts they have made so far.

The elders advised that before things get to unmanageable level, action must be taken by reverting to the system of government that the country operated in 1966 when the country was divided into six geo-political zones.

“This 1999 Constitution is a ploy to keep everybody quiet a. The government should address the complaints of the people not to engage itself in the occupation of other people’s lands by conquest method,” he said.