• The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku

Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth Chief Emeka Anyaoku

Nigeria must return to true federalism, says Anyaoku

March 29, 2012
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

A  former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Emeka Anyaoku, has said that Nigeria must return to true federalism if it must make progress.

Mr. Anyaoku made this remark in Lagos at the 4th Annual Bola Tinubu Colloquium, an event organized to mark the 60th birthday of a  former Lagos State governor.

“I do believe that a true, rather than our current unitarist federalism, will better promote peace, stability, and development in Nigeria,” said Mr. Anyaoku.

“There can be no doubt that Nigeria was making progress in national development in the early years of its independence when it practiced true federalism of four regions with more extensive powers deployed from the centre to the regions.

“Those were the days of the significant export of groundnuts, hides and skins, and the tin ore from the North; of cocoa from the West; of rubber from the Mid-West; and palm produce and coal from the East of Nigeria,” said Mr. Anyaoku.

Political heavyweights meet

The colloquium, which held under a heavy police presence at the Eko Hotel and Suites, was a gathering of political heavyweights across the country.

Adams Oshiomhole and Lucky Igbinedion, present and former Edo State governors; Diepreye Alamieseigha, former Bayelsa State governor; Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State governor; Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Niger State governor; Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Atiku-Okowa AD

A bent Maitama Sule, a presidential candidate in the 1979 election, stepped into the venue about 30 minutes late and the praise singers, stationed at the entrance, rolled out their drums.

The octogenarian struggled to shuffle a few feet as he was helped up the three-step staircase that led into the venue.

The celebrant, Mr. Tinubu, arrived over an hour late and proceeded to give a high five to Mr. Igbinedion and other top politicians at the event.

Mr. Anyaoku, the chairman of the occasion, noted that he accepted to honour the invitation “because of what the man in whose honour it is organized represents.”

NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD

Kogi AD

TEXEM Advert

“Bola Tinubu was of an effective advocate and a dedicated activist for the return of democracy and restitution of Chief M.K.O Abiola’s presidential election in Nigeria,” said Mr. Anyaoku, who arrived 15 minutes before the 3 p.m scheduled time of the event.

Lagos’ battles

With Ade Ipaye, the Attorney-General of Lagos State; and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a member of the House of Representatives; introducing the speakers for the day; the colloquium delved into graphic presentations of some landmark achievements in the state from 1997 till date.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“Hardly anybody gave us a chance, but on reflections, it was an extremely daunting challenge,” said Yemi Cardoso, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget during Mr. Tinubu’s administration.

In his presentation ‘Public Finance in an Emerging Megapolis,’ Wale Edun, a former Commissioner for Finance, noted how the state grew its internally generated revenue from N600 million in 1999 to more than N15 billion in 2011.

Leke Pitan, a Commissioner during the celebrant’s administration, spoke at length on the reforms in the education and health sector since 1999; from provision of free anti malaria and ante natal drugs to building “mega” schools before it was cut short by the audience applauding him in mid speech.

Yemi Osinbajo reminisced about his first meeting with Mr. Tinubu in April 1999 and the state’s various litigation with the federal government.

“The creation of the 37 local government councils in 2002 was probably the defining moment in the struggle for true federalism,” said Prof. Osinbajo, a former Attorney-General of Lagos State.

Rauf Aregbesola, the Osun State governor, who periodically threw the audience into fits of laughter while speaking on ‘Politics: The People First’ called on the Action Congress of Nigeria to “throw out” whoever is not ready for the task ahead.

“Lagos is gradually turning out to be that city that we are proud of but it was a lot of effort…

“I would not want to elaborate because when I elaborate, I get myself overworked.

“Our new task is reconstruction of our reclaimed territory,” said Mr. Aregbesola.

The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, while delivering the last speech for the evening said that the state to enforce the legislation to collect taxes.

“How can 2.5 million people be paying taxes in a state of over 20 million people? That is not sustainable,” said Mr. Fashola.

The occasion also witnessed the presentation of the book ‘Asiwaju: Leadership in Troubled Times’.

About N50 million cash was realized from the sale of the book at the event, with most of the guest preferring to disclose their donations privately.

The organizers said that the proceeds from the sales would be channeled into a fund, the Bola Tinubu Institute for Good Governance.

Fashola against Tinubu

While thanking his guests at the event, Mr. Tinubu noted that though any captain can steer a ship, “it takes exceptional leadership to chart a new course.”

Mr. Fashola’s had in his speech said that he had been asked by the lower cadre members of the party to prevail on the celebrant to dispense “justice equally.”

Mr. Tinubu refused.

“If there’s no partiality, you cannot be governor yourself,” he told Mr. Fashola.

“Ask them not to give me the task, that I’ll not be able to deliver,” said Mr. Tinubu.

“What I’d done consistently in the past, why would I want to change at 60?

“I’ve succeeded with that behaviour and sorry I’ll not deviate from it.”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print



Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Tinubu, Fashola clash at birthday colloquium

Next Post

Egypt friendly: Eagles list out on Friday

More News

A Petrol black market in Akure

Petrol sells at N700 per litre in Akure black market, not available at filling stations

February 1, 2023
Super Eagles' striker, Paul Onuachu

Transfer: Onuachu joins Aribo in Southampton

February 1, 2023
Peter Obi, Labour party's presidential candidate in Adamawa State

Peter Obi campaigns in Adamawa, pledges to secure Nigeria

February 1, 2023
Group CEO Mele Kyari

NNPC assures INEC of petrol supply during elections

February 1, 2023
Dollar notes used to illustrate the story.

Naira stable at forex markets amid new note scarcity

February 1, 2023
President Muhammadu Buhari In Bauchi State

Buhari returns to Abuja after official engagements in Lagos, Senegal, Kano, others

February 1, 2023
Leave Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Digital Store
  • Home
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Gender
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria