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Sections News Editorial/Opinion Cover Choice Arts & Life Business Politics Sports   Subscription Form Click here       Daily Independent Online.         * Friday,July 16, 2004. PDP chieftain criticisesNigeria’s federalism By Emma Gbemudu Correspondent,Yenagoa   The federal system of government as practised in the country has come under attack as necessary powers are not accorded the federating states to enhance rapid development. According to the former special adviser to the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Asara Asara, what obtains in Nigeria for now can be described as ‘unitary federalism’. Speaking with reporters at a news conference in Yenagoa, the politician noted: “As we are aware, true federalism as it is practised in America gives wide range of powers to the component units to formulate policies and programmes that could bring about rapid development.” According to him, the states control greater percentage of resources from which they contribute to the centre, regretting that, “in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. Political and economic powers are concentrated at the centre, thus reducing the states to mere political appendages”. He advocated for the zoning of political offices, adding that it was the best approach to evolve a lasting democracy for sustainable development. The (PDP) stalwart said that the 2007 governorship election requires a power shift to either Bayelsa East or West senatorial zone. According to him, this will strengthen unity, stability, development and peaceful co-existence among the people, arguing that since Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha hails from the Bayelsa Central zone, “I believe that those who are canvassing otherwise are merely living in fools paradise and should be ignored”. The PDP chief regretted that the marginalisation of the smaller ethnic nationalities generated a lot of agitations for resource control and self-determination, particularly among the Niger Delta area. “Based on this, the late General Sani Abacha for the first time created six geo-political zones in Nigeria. I want to say that the myriads of factors account for the adoption of zoning both at the national and state levels of government”, Asara said.       Copyright� 2002. All Rights Reserved Independent Newspapers Limited Block5, Plot 7D, Wempco Road, Ogba, P.M.B. 21777, Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. www.dailyindependentng.com e-mail: [email protected]

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