Ondo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has prescribed true federalism in running the affairs of the country, saying it is the only panacea to its myriads of problems.
Governor Mimiko made the call in his office yesterday during a courtesy call on him by the body of Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation.
The Governor maintained that if the nation continues to adopt the policy of centralization most units of the country would continue to wallow in poverty.
He added that the nation must adopt the principle of true federalism, stressing that each state must be allowed to create its desired number of local governments as much as such practice will not constitute problem for the federal government.
Mimiko maintained that both the body of attorneys general and legislators must form a forum to enable them have mutual interaction capable of addressing major issues of national development.
He said “if we get our fundamental issues right in this country, this nation will achieve accelerated development. The more we decentralize in this country, the more development we will achieve as a nation. The more we centralize the more problem for the country. We must devolve more resources to the periphery and we must identify clearly our federating unit”.
In his speech, the chairman of the body of attorneys general and Ondo state commissioner for justice, Mr Eyitayo Jegede SAN said the body was an initiation of the governors’ forum to assist their respective state governors on specific issues pertaining to issues of federalism, fiscal policy,state creation and labour matters among others. He added that the body has provided avenue for them to exchange ideas and rub minds on matters of state and national interest.