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JOE EFFIONG, UYO
The continuous practice of a cumbersome federalism at all tiers of government in the Nigeria is said as one of the major problems inhibiting significant economic development at the grassroots
A senior lecturer at the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, and facilitator of Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana. who said this while speaking with journalists about the oncoming book launch: Eight Years of Victor Attah in Akwa Ibom State; A Memoir for Posterity,written about the administration of former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah, said devolution of power to the federating units in Nigeria, especially, the local government areas, was one of the keys struggles Attah embarked on alongside the fight for resource control.
Dr Nana who was the director of media and publicity to the former governor then, said if Nigeria government can adopt some of the ideologies put up by Obong Attah, most of the socioeconomic challenges besetting the nation would be mitigated.
.”If Nigeria as a nation was able to embrace all the ideas propagated by Obong Attah, it would have been better organized and run, for instance in practice of true federalism, he has been emphasizing on the need for devolution of powers to the federating units. He believes that it is too costly to extend the practice of federalism to the local government councils.
“Even the issue of fiscal federalism, all the states in Nigeria is endowed with natural resources that is why in Zamfara state people are fighting for gold and other precious metal, he believes that if states are empowered by law to take care of their natural resources and pay taxes to the centre, it will reduce the fights where multinationals are mining gold secretly,and reduce insecurity and other economic issues we are facing, that is what happened when Nigeria practiced regional government, during that time you see that development was faster, different regions like the eastern, western , northern region developed at their pace and there was competition, therefore, that is what Nigeria truly needs.” Nana said.
He said the book is a welcome addition to the literature of development of Akwa Ibom State, and by extension, the whole nation.
Nana described Attah as a “visioner who visualized. He designed. He created and stamped his vision on the ground. Successive administrations all followed his well outlined vision and added theirs. the roads, the airport, the hotel, the golf course, the state secretariat Complex, human capital development – students, public servants, social – re-orientation, the economic health of the state and innumerable contributions; a policy like the Inter – Ministerial Direct Labour Agency. He instituted the monthly prayer sessions.The payment of WAEC / NABTEB examination fees for Students.”
The author of the book, Rev Faith Thomas said the book on Obong Victor Attach was not only aimed at gazetting the activities of the former governor while in office, but also to provide a platform where the present governments as well as the successive ones would draw an inspiration and reference to address the challenges they may encounter in governance.
Thomas explained that the 308-page book, divided into 44 chapters and grouped into 10 sections, has a lot of contributions from stakeholders and close allies of the former governor such as Professor Akpan Ekpo, Senators Effiong Bob and Udo Udoma among others.
He said he chose to bring out the book at this critical period to challenge politicians to read and see the need to lead a fair, focused and detribalized government devoid of sharp practices.
Recalling on how ex governor Attah fought for resource control during president Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration for the state, the author said the huge allocations the state enjoys thereafter was as a result of Attah’s doggedness as such there was need to reawaken those exploits through a book so that successive governments can borrow a leaf therefrom.
“This is a definitive publication gazetting the administrations of Victor Attah from electioneering to leaving office. He was a diehard fighter for us. If he were to be a coward we wouldn’t have enjoyed what we are enjoying today. Most of the core projects successive governments built on were designed by Obong Attah. He stood his ground despite what Obasanjo did to him. He did not only fight for the economy of the state, he laid foundation, politically, economically and academically when he said every child in Akwa Ibom must go to school. It is based on that I decided sincerely to write a book.” Thomas said.
