Elder statesman and prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has proposed that decentralizing power within the Federal Government could be a key strategy to address Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
He believes that when resources are managed by local governments, the quality of life for Nigerians will improve, leading to a significant reduction in hardship.
Expressing his concern over the nation’s economic issues, George criticized the current administration led by Bola Tinubu, pointing out the failures and unpopularity of its policies.
“Democracy is fundamentally about the people and their needs and desires. It involves managing the nation’s resources for the benefit of its citizens. That’s why we have three levels of government—executive, legislative, and judiciary—in each state,” he explained.
He lamented the ongoing struggles faced by the country, stating, “The president asks us to be patient while he sorts things out, yet people are suffering. Nigerians are both hungry and angry.”
George criticized the 1999 Constitution for centralizing resource management in the hands of a single individual, likening it to military governance. “We’ve been vocal about these issues. Having experienced both military and civilian systems, it’s clear that they operate differently. Currently, everything seems to revolve around Abuja (the Federal Capital Territory). Decisions are made centrally, and resources are distributed from there, which is simply not effective. It’s unreasonable for one person to dictate local governance,” he added.
On the subject of national security, George suggested that establishing local and state police forces would enhance the security of lives and property. He also criticized various agencies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and highlighted the persistent issues with power supply that lead to frequent grid failures.
He advocated for revisiting some of the proposals from the 2014 National Conference, suggesting that these recommendations would be more beneficial than the President’s recurrent calls for patience and endurance.
Notably, the conference had recommended adjustments to the allocation formula, proposing a reduction in the weighting given to population and state equality.
