by SEBASTINE EBHUOMHAN
Former Governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, has said that all the ethnic nationalities in the country should be represented in the proposed National Conference.
Ogbemudia said the conference should have representatives from each of the nation’s 389 ethnic groups.
He said: “There should be no imposition of delegates by governments; ethnic groups should be allowed to appoint their representatives themselves. The conference should not last longer than six months.”
Ogbemudia, who was speaking as head of the Midwest Forum through the group’s secretary, Dr Okunzuwa Osawaru, stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to send a bill that would give the conference legal backing to the National Assembly.
According to him, the resolutions of the conference should be subject only to a referendum and not the National Assembly as was being proposed by the President
Ogbemudia said: “We are also going to discuss fiscal federalism because it is our belief that revenue formula should be reviewed to be based on revenue generation not revenue allocation so that from whatever you generate from your region, you keep a substantial part of it and contribute to the Federal Government.”
Calling for abolition of the 36 states structure, the former governor suggested that country should revert to the part-time parliamentary system of government.
Ogbemudia also called for the creation of two more regions such as Midwest from the South-South and another from the Middle Belt.
On the role of the Federal Government, he said it should remain in control of defense, currency, customs and foreign affairs, while the states control their resources so as to take charge of the other remaining ministries all of which are currently under the Federal Government.
Former Governor of old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, has said that all the ethnic nationalities in the country should be represented in the proposed National Conference.
Ogbemudia said the conference should have representatives from each of the nation’s 389 ethnic groups.
He said: “There should be no imposition of delegates by governments; ethnic groups should be allowed to appoint their representatives themselves. The conference should not last longer than six months.”
Ogbemudia, who was speaking as head of the Midwest Forum through the group’s secretary, Dr Okunzuwa Osawaru, stressed the need for President Goodluck Jonathan to send a bill that would give the conference legal backing to the National Assembly.
According to him, the resolutions of the conference should be subject only to a referendum and not the National Assembly as was being proposed by the President
Ogbemudia said: “We are also going to discuss fiscal federalism because it is our belief that revenue formula should be reviewed to be based on revenue generation not revenue allocation so that from whatever you generate from your region, you keep a substantial part of it and contribute to the Federal Government.”
Calling for abolition of the 36 states structure, the former governor suggested that country should revert to the part-time parliamentary system of government.
Ogbemudia also called for the creation of two more regions such as Midwest from the South-South and another from the Middle Belt.
On the role of the Federal Government, he said it should remain in control of defense, currency, customs and foreign affairs, while the states control their resources so as to take charge of the other remaining ministries all of which are currently under the Federal Government.
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