Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Friday paid glowing tribute to the Chairman of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG), Hon. Olawale Oshun even as he admonished that the solution to the problems of the nation lies in the genuine resolve of Nigerians to change things.

Fashola, who spoke at the 60th birthday anniversary of the Afenifere chieftain, also advised the National Assembly that the quickest and most effective way to amend the Constitution is to effect changes in those provisions that emanated from military decrees and verdicts.

He urged the Legislators to also look at the those laws that have centralised and appropriated the powers of the states in areas like the regulation of hotels, collection of Value Added Tax (VAT), issuance of drivers’ licenses which, according to him, used to be done by Local Governments and the centralization of the National Lottery with a view to amending them.
According to him, “Issues like Federal Character will not guarantee us unity; it will not guarantee us progress.

It is a programme like the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), inter-tribal marriages and such other things that make us human that can fully and continue to integrate our country,” he said pointing out that the damage to our Federalism is deep and intense.
The governor said considering the role the British Colonialists played in the history of Nigeria, it is clear that the solution to the problem of Nigeria does not necessarily lie with any foreign input but a collective acceptance of the responsibility to change those things that are unacceptable.

Fashola declared, “The liberation of Nigeria, the assurance of her continued survival, is a road that is worth going and there should be no short cut”, pointing out that the only way to achieve liberation and ensure the survival of the country is for Nigerians to take their collective destiny in their hands.

“I will like to ask, if we amend the Constitution, whether the amendments we are effecting are more Federal; whether the amendments will allow states to take the destinies of their Local Governments in their own hands; whether the amendments have gotten rid of the anti-Federal and military tendencies that have held back our country”, the governor asked.

Fashola poured encomiums on Hon. Olawale Oshun saying his experience and relationship with the former Chief Whip, Federal House of Representatives, revealed him as a “purposeful advocate of all that is good”. He added, “He is a very quiet but efficient servant of our party and his people”.

Describing the Afenifere chieftain as selfless, the governor declared, “Every time he calls or sends me a text message, that call or text message is always about others. It has never been about him. And when I say it is about others, I don’t mean others in the Mainland or Ebute-Metta. Sometimes, it is about people as far away as Jos or Haiti. It concerns every where there is pain and suffering”

“I bear testimony to the fact that perhaps he may not be the most vocal person, but somehow, he prods you, and continues to prick your conscience until you do what is right”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Action Congress would, perhaps not be what it is today in terms of its mass and popular appeal, its growth from strength to strength without the input of Hon Oshun.

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