All Progressives Congress assures Nigerians of implementing true federalism

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that it would adhere to the dictates of its manifestos, which, among others, stipulate the need to implement true federalism in the polity.

The National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun gave the assurance yesterday, while inaugurating a 24-member clarification committee on true federalism led by Governor Nasir Ahmad El- Rufai of Kaduna State.

Odigie-Oyegun who acknowledged that the task before the committee is critical maintained that the issue, which was agreed upon by its founding fathers remain one of the cardinal manifesto of the party.

Oyegun who charged members of the committee to reach out to various interests groups in the country re-echoed the party’s opposition to the report of the 2014 Justice Idris Kutigi led report on national conference.

According to him: “ I need to make one point clear because there is a lot of misgivings out there in the public domain. If any group can claim ownership to the principle and the Ned for true federalism , that group is the APC.

“From our constituent unit, that was one of the principal point. And when we sat down to negotiate the union – the great party called the APC, it was one of the principal issue that we negotiated and agreed and as a result the constitution of the party , the manifesto of the party were very elaborate in thei references to true federalism and devolution of powers.’’

In his response, El-Rufai thanked the Odigie-Oyegun led leadership for reposing the confidence on his committee to spell out the clear cut position of the party on true federalism.

He cited the decision by the Federal Government to cede some federal owned assets as well as involve the 36 states governors in charting the economic policy direction of the country as clear indications of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration’s resolve to devolve power to the states and ensure true federalism in the polity.

He disclosed that his committee comprising nine governors, NWC members, National Assembly members had already identified 12 issues on devolution of power and true federalism that would be put before Nigerians spread across 12 states capitals of the country for deliberation.

El-Rufai cited resource control, fiscal federalism and devolution of powers, state creation, regionalism, and land tenure as some of the items that his committee would look into in the course of it’s assignment.

Members of the committee comprises among others Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola; Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong; Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Former Governor of Edo State, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor; APC National Organising Secretary; Sen. Osita Izunaso; APC National Publicity Secretary; Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Secretary).

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Sharon Ikeazor, Sullivan Chime, Stella Dorgu, Olubunmi Adetutu, Rinsola Abiola,  Fati Bala, Aisha Ismail, Aisha Jummai, Yahaya Bello, and Kashim Ibrahim.