Debate reopens on true federalism

From Chuks Okocha        in Abuja


The increasing agitation for true federalism took centre stage yesterday when two governors spoke out at a public forum in Abuja.
While Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State insisted that the national minimum wage is centrally imposed as most states do not have the wherewithal to pay, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State argued that a state police has become imperative.


Obi said with the direction of events, even drivers would soon start demanding minimum wage as laws are imposed on states from the centre contrary to the true practice of federalism.


Re-echoing the imperative of a national conference, Obi said it is key in the discussion of the structure and enthronement of true federalism in the country.


According to him, there is no midway into unitary system and true federation, stressing that “we are either a true federation or not. Let us state where we are. We cannot say that we are a true federation when I sit in office and someone orders me about from somewhere.”


He used the Minimum Wage Act as an example, saying: “I argue against the minimum wage because there is nothing like the minimum wage anywhere in the world. There is nothing like the minimum wage in China, India, Malaysia, and United States of America. Life is not a buffet, but an a la carte.


“There are no two places in Europe that two professors are paid the same salaries. Harvard professors earn 10 times more than the professors in Alabama. We must discuss, because very soon, drivers in the streets will gang up and ask for minimum wage,” he said.
Obi also said that the revenue of the states is never the same, explaining that a state in the South-south earns more than what all the states in the South-east earn as revenue.


According to Mimiko who was the guest speaker at the launch of a book, “Nigeria’s Golden Book published by the Sun Newspapers, citizens make varying demands on the states, all bordering on the absence of unfettered federalist practice.


“Today, there is an overbearing centre, with beggarly and weak federating units. We agree that this can never augur well for comprehensive and sustainable good governance and enduring democracy.


“We require purposeful leadership to reverse this situation and President Goodluck Jonathan should brace up to this challenge as a departure from the lukewarm attitude of previous leaders to the issue of true federalism. History beckons.”


Mimiko, who called for state police, said: “Today, we run a centralised security system that impedes the gathering of intelligence and control of crime. It is a known fact that each society has a way of handling its deviants and miscreants.  It is through the institutionalisation of local, community and communal means of apprehending and managing such that true security could be guaranteed.”


He said: “Only a review of the constitution to allow the establishment of state police can move us at the right speed in combating crimes.”


The Ondo State governor, while endorsing calls for a national conference, added that “we must be prepared for all-inclusive engagement. We must talk, by whatever name it is called. We must discuss our anxieties and build necessary consensus for the way forward.


“We have said that there is a mutual reinforcing relationship between the skewed structure, elections and leadership. What should be added is that there are a set of manifestations of their combined effects on Nigeria."
Former Head of State, Gen.

Abdulsalami Abubakar, who chaired the book launch, charged Nigerians to ensure that the ship of state berths at a safe harbour.
Abubakar lamented: "We fought a civil war for national unity between 1967 and 1970. Today, we are rocked by various kinds of national challenges, particularly on the security front.


“But it behoves all of us to band together, put all hands on deck to ensure that the ship of state berths at a safe harbour. It is in that light that I see Nigeria’s Golden Book as a veritable effort at national unity and harmony.”


The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, who was represented by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Information, Hon. Victor Ogene, called on the governors that are against the operations of the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) to approach the court for redress.


The speaker said: “The Sovereign Wealth Fund is a law of the federation passed by an Act of the National Assembly duly assented into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, therefore anyone that has any grouse against the operations of this act should seek redress from the court and in this case, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/obi-soon-drivers-8217-ll-ask-for-minimum-wage/99452/

If indeed Peter Obi made these remarks, he is heavily misguided and very unfit for the seat he occupies.

Yes,if he said dt then he is nt worthy of d place.he wil sn leave and we go kw hw far?

That guy is a bastard.Yet he collects #250 million every month as security vote.Anambra is richer than most oil producing states besides how many civil servants are in the state.The people are mostly into business.

Obi sed dere is no minimum wage in d U.S.A,dats a cheapfaced lie frm d no.1 citizen of a state.
He also sed,mayb jokingly,dat mayb drivers will soon stat asking for a minimum;in his quest to crack a joke,he exhibited an element of stupidity(sorry for my language).
Dis is a man a lot was expected of,came wt a lot of gudwill and trust from d citizens of d state,but I daresay he has shown a level of incompetence,disdain and mediocrity comparable only to dat of d abia state gov,Orji Uzor.
D east is desirous of leaders,but d crop of people dat av held saddle over d affairs of d region since 1999 have bn nothing but catastrophic

That shows his level of stupidity and literacy level.Thank God for the internet search wikipedia and you will find out the minimum wage of all the countries USA inclusive.

Before nko

the drivers go wait am next election
then he go beg

Peter Obi is correct.

By driver he means cab driver right?

Where in the world do cab drivers earn minimum wage?

That type of job, the amount of money you make is dependent on how many customers you get. So who would even be paying them minimum wage?

Ekt-bear,yes he is also right when he said there is nothing like minimum wage in Us,Malaysia or any other part of the word use Wikipedia and find out for your self.

I don't think he is correct on that statement, so didn't bother addressing it.

Minimum wage is not necessary in a true market economy. wiling buyer, willing seller.