Leaders of the South Western States have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to instil ‘true federalism’ in Nigeria to uphold the unity and integration of the country. The call was made at a meeting of governors, ministers, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders from the South West zone and a delegation from the Presidency led by the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari on November 8 in Lagos State. The meeting was reported to have held at the instance of the President as part of nationwide consultations following the #EndSARS protests.
The South West leaders urged the Federal Government to devolve more powers to State governments in the areas of economy and security, with a view to tackling youth unemployment and overhauling the security architecture in the country. They also called on the government to revisit reports of various constitutional conferences and implement relevant recommendations. Similarly, Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has enjoined the National Assembly to immediately commence deliberation on the clamour for true federalism in the country. All these calls echo several demands for restructuring the country that have been made in recent times by groups and individuals alike.
The #EndSARS protests have sparked several conversations on nation building, good governance and accountability, as it reignited citizens’ interest and participation in governance issues.