President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has said that the worsening security situation in the country is a result of lack of functional local government system.
Starnews Nigeria reports that Lawan stated this yesterday (Thursday ) while faulting the Southern Governors Forum for calling for restructuring of the country, saying it is wrong for elected officials to lead such agitation.
Speaking in an interview with State House correspondents after the Eid-el-Fitri prayers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Lawan attributed the security challenges in the country to the absence of a functional local government system across the 36 States in Nigeria.
He said: “We are all leaders and we are in this together, the solutions must come from us regardless of what levels of leadership we are – whether at the federal, state Level, or even local government level.
“I also want to take this opportunity to say that we have diminished the local government system. I think we can attribute the security issues to the absence of a functional local government system.
“I think the time has come for us to take up the challenge and ensure that the local government system functions. This is as we look for ways to curb the security challenge.
“We must never neglect the local government system. We must go back to our local government system to ensure they are autonomous and functional.”
On the call by the Southern Governors Forum for restructuring of the country, Lawan said: “I believe that, as leaders, especially those of us who are elected into office, should not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing.
“Because, even if you are a governor, you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level, you have done it in your state as well.
“What you may accuse the Federal Government of, whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.
“So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government levels work for the people.
“We must allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any let or hindrance.”
Urging elected leaders to shun regionalism, Lawan added: “The President is reaching out to all the stakeholders, and I believe that as leaders, particularly those of us who were elected at all levels of government, we should avoid partisanship.
“We should avoid regionalism. We are all leaders and we are in this together. The solutions to our challenges must come from us regardless of what level of government we are.
“Whether at the federal, state or the local government level, I believe that Nigeria is going to come out of these challenges stronger.”
Lawan further advised Nigerians to support efforts at ensuring the desired autonomy for local governments in the country.
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