The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja has lamented that the country’s system of government is not reflecting true federalism and therefore called on the federal government to make necessary adjustment that will pave way for the states to have controls over some matters that affect the grassroots in their respective states.
Ambassador Arapaja stated this while reacting to the explosion that rocked parts of Ibadan city last week Tuesday shortly after he led the powerful Oyo State government delegation to the scene located at Adeyi Oyelese area, old Bodija Ibadan on Sunday afternoon to sympathize with the victims including a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council in the State, Senator Hosea Agboola Hallelujah whose house was also affected by the explosion.
Ambassador Arapaja who was short of words with the magnitude of destruction caused by the incidence, blamed the federal government for allowing foreigners to come and exploit the country at the expense of the state governments.
His words: “to me it is the federal government that caused the whole problem because there is no true federalism in the country and this can only happen in a country where there is no law and order. I don’t understand why a governor will not have a say in what is happening in his state and the foreigners will come here and exploit us without any approval by the sitting governor.
Even on the issue of security, if anything happens the police will have to report to Abuja before they get signal or approval to act. So the government has to look into issue of mineral resources, police and some other things that have to do with grassroot and then move them from the exclusive list to the concurrent list.
For us as a country to run a true federalism, the present federal government and the national assembly need to remove some of the things that are on the exclusive list to the concurrent list for the state governments to be fully in charge.” Ambassador Arapaja enthused.
Amb. Arapaja who described the incidence which affected more than 40 houses as bad and devastating, however, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his prompt and immediate provision of relief packages to the victims of the explosion, stressing that the Governor’s prompt response is very rare among Nigerian leaders.
He enjoined the residents all over the State to always be vigilant and report any strange or suspicious movement and activity they notice in their community in order to avert re-occurrence of the ugly incidence in the State.
Others who are on government delegation with Amb. Arapaja to the scene and Senator Halleluyah’s residence are Governor Makinde’s ally, Otunba Seye Famojuro, Commissioners for Works and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Akin Funmilayo, Local Government and Chieftaincy, Hon. Segun Olayiwola, Hon. Babatunde Tijani (Double T.), ALGON Chairman, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, Hon. Akanbi Waheed Adeniyi (Biro), Hon. Kamoru Mudasiru, Hon. Seun Olufade, Hon. Sunday Babatunde – Secretary Ibadan South East Local Government, Alhaji Abass Oloko, Mr. Sulaimon Adeshina Ib. SE PDP Chairman, Hon. Taofeek Oyo State PDP assistant youth leader, and others.
