By Tunde Thomas

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APC leaders in the South-West geo-political zone of the country have declared that their support for fiscal federalism is borne out of patriotic zeal to ensure that  peace and unity of the country is not threatened by recent agitations and pockets of crises in various parts of the country.
In this interview, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Henry Ajomale spoke on various issues.
What informed the decision of South-West APC leaders to  support  calls for fiscal federalism. Before now, APC leaders from the zone have been quiet about it; is it because oil has now been discovered in Lagos?
It is very wrong to say APC leaders from the zone have been quiet about the calls for restructuring or fiscal federalism. For a long time, prominent leaders  from the zone  have always been at the forefront of the agitations for change. We have always been at the forefront of whatever measures that we believe will strengthen unity in our nation. We have always been championing the need for every part  or zones of the country to have a sense of belonging. We believe in true practice of federalism, and we will never shy away from talking about what we believe will strengthen it. The fact we must all face is that today, restructuring has become inevitable but unfortunately, some people including some elites are confusing people. They are misleading people about restructuring. Some of them are peddling falsehood that restructuring will lead to break-up of Nigeria. For us, restructuring will  strengthen the nation and prevent it from break-up.
How do you think restructuring will help strengthen Nigeria?
It is very simple. Under the restructuring we have in mind, Nigeria will be reduced from the present 36 state structure to six regions or six geo-political zones. Six states that presently made up each geo-political zone will form a region and each region will be given freedom to take control of resources in its region. The region will now pay tax from resources being exploited in their region to the Federal Government. This is what is called fiscal federalism. This is the way it is done in those countries that practice true federalism including the United States of America.   It was also being done the same way in Nigeria in the First republic before the military truncated democracy in 1966. That was the era of groundnut pyramid in Kano in the North, Cocoa in the West and Coal in the East. But the military intervention disrupted everything.
But fears are being expressed that some regions or states would suffer if fiscal federalism is allowed in Nigeria
Such fears are unfounded. There is no region in the country that is not blessed with one natural resource or the other. It is the discovery of oil that has made us to become lazy and that is why Nigeria is in  crisis today. Imagine about 27 states owing salaries. That could never happen if we are implementing fiscal federalism. Rather than waiting for allocation from oil sales every month, each region or zone would have discovered some resources which it will be harnessing to get revenue. Nigeria is richly endowed with abundant natural resources which can fetch us good money but like I said earlier, the discovery of oil has made us to become lazy. Are there not other countries that are not blessed with oil and are they not doing fine? The earlier we face the reality, the better. Fiscal federalism will do us a lot of good. It will make the regions much stronger. Regions will be less dependent on the centre, and even the bitter struggle for control of power at the centre will be lessened. Federal government will only be concerned with issues relating to Foreign Affairs, and Defence. Thus in a way, , fiscal federalism will help us  eliminate the problem of do-or – die politics always associated with struggle for control of power at the centre.
So, your support for fiscal federalism is not as a result of Lagos State now being classified as an oil producing state?
No. Anybody saying that is being unfair to us. Is Ondo, another state in the South-West  not an  oil producing state? Bitumen, another natural resource being used for road construction  is also found in large  commercial quantity in Ondo State. The state has one of the biggest deposits of bitumen in the world. When issues of national importance are being discussed, people should not trivialize it or bring parochial or ethnic sentiments into it. We should all see ourselves as one, as members of the same family. We should all be thinking of the larger interests of the nation.
Are you, I mean South-West APC leaders on the same page with the national leadership of the party on this issue; I am asking this because  some   prominent national leaders  of the party  have  voiced their opposition to any form of restructuring?
We are always working together in harmony. Don’t even forget that some prominent members of our party have also been speaking in support of restructuring, saying that it is inevitable. Remember that the former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is one of the strong advocates of restructuring.
Restructuring as I said earlier is not about breaking up Nigeria. It is about reforming the system to bring about dynamic change that will help our nation and even democracy to grow. I’m of a strong conviction that restructuring will end  the on-going violence in the Niger-Delta. It will also end renewed agitations for Independent state of Biafra. It will end the problems of herdsmen, and a host of others.
What is your assessment of Buhari’s administration; the journey so far, some are saying that Nigerians are suffering, and that  this is not the kind of change they voted for, what is your take on that?
I believe that we still have every cause to thank God that we have a change of government, and for us to have Buhari in charge now should be considered a blessing. Look at how Jonathan and PDP government had caused so much damage to the economy. Look at all the revelations of looting and pillaging of our resources and commonwealth by those scavengers under Jonathan’s watch. Look at the billions of naira and even dollars looted.
Buhari inherited an empty treasury from Josnathan, and he is trying his best to  provide succour for Nigerians. If Buhari has not won that election, Nigeria would have become a failed state under Jonathan. Jonathan owes Nigerians an apology for messing up this nation.
Buhari’s  anti corruption war has been described as being one side, what is your  reaction to that?
I will say that is another falsehood being peddled by the opposition and their supporters. If you have not held appointment and soiled your hands, will the anti-corruption agencies come after you? It is those who have cases to answer that are being made or call to give account of their stewardship. Again is the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki not a leading member of APC? Is he not undergoing trial? President Buhari has declared that anybody that has proof of corruption against any APC member should come out with proof and that such fellow will be investigated. Let these opposition people take up the President’s challenge instead of  using false propaganda against the president.
Some  notable members of PDP have fingered your party APC as being responsible or even sponsoring the crisis tearing PDP apart, how do you react to that?
PDP members saying that should look for another thing to say. Sheriff who is embroiled in seriously fighting them, are they (PDP) not the ones that invited him to their party to come and lead them. They are responsible for their own woes. In actual fact, nobody should shed tears for PDP, they are sowing what they reaped. When PDP was in government, their stock in trade was to destabilize other parties, they did it to us in the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Whatever a man sows, he will reap, PDP is reaping what it sowed. But instead of blaming others, PDP  leaders  should be  sober and remorseful . They should also apologise to Nigerians for the damage the party -led administration did to the economy of  the nation. PDP should apologise for those 16 years the party was in control of power. They should apologise for those years I will like to describe as the years of the locusts.