STATE OF THE NATION: On the Trending Draft Bill seeking return to Regional Government
Re: Trending draft bill seeking return to regional government
“It’s time to return Nigeria to regional government” – Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies
Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in 2019, a Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication Arts, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, at IAUE, Port Harcourt has spoken on the, “Trending Draft Bill seeking return to Regional Government” in Nigeria by Dr. Akin Fapohunda. Dr. “Fapohunda” as his name reads, remarkably means, “Let the gods speak” or “The Ifa Oracle god choses to speak,” literarily and literally.
Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, the linguist and political commentator says, “It would be a welcome development for Nigerians to deliberate on the, “Trending draft bill seeking return to regional government.” She added, “It’s time to return to regional government.” This is the right and actual time, she urges President Bola Tinubu, of the APC-led government to please do the needful.”
I am in agreement with Dr. Akin Fapohunda that, “The President, last week returned Nigeria to the old national anthem. And at independence, Nigeria embraced a regional system of government. So, it’s time we also revisit the past and revert to regionalism. And the time is NOW!”
It’s also time to revisit and bring out the 2014 President GEJ’s National CONFAB for implementation. Nigeria cannot be in the darkroom forever! Why is the government scared for heaven’s sake! I dare to wake up the giant in President Bola Tinubu.
There has been a
trending draft bill seeking return to regional government since 31st May 2024, in a report by Dirisu Yakubu of Punch. The Bill is Titled, “A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a new governance model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the draft seeks among others, a new extant law to be cited as “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024.”
The document, which has been trending on social media, is said to have been drafted by Dr. Akin Fapohunda, who is not a lawmaker in the Senate or the House of Representatives; an indication that the said draft legislation is a private bill.
Dr. Akin Fapohunda, our great man behind the bill spoke with Punch correspondent exclusively on the matter on Friday. He told Punch’s correspondent that he retired from the public service as a director in the Presidency.
“I have a PhD. in Agricultural Science, – same course as President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, but I am into Information and Communication Technology. I have been involved in constitution drafting for years,” he said.
Fapohunda gave a reason for coming up with the draft bill, saying, “The President, this week returned us to the old national anthem. At independence, Nigeria embraced a regional system of government. So, I felt we could also revisit the past and return to regionalism.
‘I have done a preliminary draft for Nigerians to ponder over. Next week, I will be seeing my representative in the House of Representatives. We hope that senators and House members can embrace this modest proposal for a change.
“If this is acceptable, we can then sit down and do a proper drafting of the bill.”
Although, dismissing the draft bill in a telephone conversation with our correspondent, House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, said, “The Committees on Rules and Business and Constitution Review have confirmed that there is no such bill before them.”
Similarly, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, told PUNCH Online that the said bill is not before the committee.
He said, “There are two routes to making presentations for constitutional amendments. One is by members proposing an amendment bill during the plenary. The second is by memoranda from individuals and groups to the Constitution Review Committee
“Please, note that memoranda submitted should eventually come by way of bills sponsored by a member of the committee.
On this specific memo (draft bill) under reference, I doubt if it has come before the Rules and Business Committee for listing. I speak as chairman of the committee.”
Adesanya-Davies concludes, “It’s not just time to revert to the old national anthem of 1960 but it’s high time we reverted to the old constitution, which was used during that same national anthem. It’s time to return to regional government. It’s time to re-negotiate, regionalize Nigeria and make the country work for once!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
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