By Ayodele Oni
For the resolutions of the Southern Governors, which met early in the week in Asaba, Delta state, to receive needed backing, they will still have to meet their counterparts in the North to iron out grey areas, former Governor of Ondo state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has advised.
Dr Mimiko stated that “the next step is for the Southern Governors to meet with their Northern counterparts to iron out what may just be minor areas of difference in substance and timelines.
“There cannot be any reasonable arguments against decentralization of policing to ensure emergence of compact and efficient sub-national forces under State (sub-national government control).
“There surely cannot be any disagreement amongst the Governors on the issue of devolution of resources from the centre. As a matter of fact, the present Revenue Allocation formula has long been statutorily due for review.
“New sources of revenue will surely be needed for state policing, and to address ongoing security challenges in the states.
In a statement on his behalf by his media aide, John Paul Akinduro, Dr Mimiko added that the present system of open grazing by Herdsmen has become obsolete and needed to be reviewed.
“The Governors’ Forum also recently took a position on open grazing in its virtual meeting of February 2021. In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the Forum had noted: “The current system of herding mainly through open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the country.” (www.nggovernorsforum.org).
“That position has now been reiterated at the Asaba meeting, underscoring the need for, and urgency of implementation of remedial measures. Time lines and details of these measures can be worked out amongst the Governors ”
Dr Mimiko expressed the hope that the country may actually be closer to a national consensus on short to medium term solutions to the present challenges than we imagine.
