You have been singled out among Yoruba leaders for your steadfast advocacy for True Federalism in Nigeria.
The urgent question before us is no longer why federalism is necessary but how to achieve it. Reasoning alone has proven insufficient—if it were enough, the countless debates held over the years would have already brought it to fruition. The time has come to reaffirm our existential reality and take concrete action.
This requires moving beyond rhetoric into practical politics—mobilizing and activating the forces needed to make Federalism a reality.
The National Assembly is pushing its own version of “Federalism,” yet its proposed bills contradict Federalism’s core principles. This follows the administration’s deceptive push for “Local Government Autonomy.” In response, we must organize our forces and define our own course of action.
So, who and what are our forces?
We have the presidency, with its advantages and limitations. We have homogenous State Assemblies. We have a generation of political leaders shaped by anti-military struggles—leaders who understand the true essence of re-Rederalization. By strategically engaging these forces in the legislative arena, we can rally a formidable front.
Until now, legislative battles have been confined to the National Assembly—from the defeat of Obasanjo’s “Third Term” agenda to the “Doctrine of Necessity” that paved the way for Jonathan, the review of tax bills, and now, this latest attempt to undermine federalism through the following proposed bills:
Establishing State and Local Government Police.; Granting INEC authority over Local Government elections, stripping State Independent Electoral Commissions of this power.; Creating a National Local Government Electoral Commission to oversee local government elections nationwide, including in the FCT.
While the National Assembly will hold public hearings, these amendments will ultimately require ratification by State Houses of Assembly.
Our response must be decisive: Yoruba State Assemblies should pass a Referendum Bill into law, secure gubernatorial assent, and make preparations to conduct a Referendum.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has already affirmed that both NASS and State Assemblies have the authority to pass laws for order and peace—under which a Referendum Law can be demanded.
If the central government attempts to suppress such a Referendum, it will face a battle over existential legitimacy—one it cannot win.
For emphasis, below is the Draft Bill for a Referendum:
DRAFT BILL FOR A REFERENDUM LAW
A Law of Oyo State House of Assembly, Ogun State House of Assembly, Osun State House of Assembly, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Ondo State House of Assembly and Lagos State House of Assembly for the holding of a Referendum on the proposal to Federate Ekiti State with Ogun State, Osun State, Oyo State, Ondo State and Lagos State and constitute same into Oduduwa Region of Western Nigeria, within the Federation of Nigeria.
A : REFERENDUM ON FEDERATION OF EKITI STATE WITH OGUN STATE, OSUN STATE, OYO STATE, ONDO STATE AND LAGOS STATE AND CONSTITUTION OF SAME INTO ODUDUWA REGION IN A FEDERATION OF NIGERIA.
- On the…………. Day of ……… 202… a Referendum shall be held in Ekiti State, Ogun State, Osun State, Oyo State, Ondo State and Lagos State of Nigeria on: (i) Whether the Governments of Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo and Lagos States should negotiate with each other with a view to forming a FEDERATION of STATES to be known as the ODUDUWA REGION OF WESTERN NIGERIA and (ii) whether the said REGION should negotiate with the Government of Nigeria and the remaining 30 states or any group of states that have also agreed to Federate and the administration of the Federal Capital Territory to achieve AUTONOMY/SELF-DETERMINATION for the said REGION within a Federation of Nigerian Constituent Units .(ANNEXURE)
- The questions or propositions to be voted on in the Referendum and form of the ballot paper to be used for that purpose are to be in the form set out in the schedule herein contained.
- Those entitled to vote in the Referendum are the persons who, on the date of the Referendum, would be entitled to vote as electors at a local government election in the electoral area/ward of the State in which they reside and/or carry out business.
4.The Governor of Each State shall appoint a Chief Electoral Officer who shall appoint an electoral officer for each Local Government Area. - Each Local Government Electoral Officer shall (a) Conduct the counting of votes cast in the area under his/her authority in accordance with any directions given by the Chief Electoral Officer and (b) Certify the number of ballot papers counted by him/her and the number of votes cast for each question/proposition.
- The Chief Electoral Officer must certify:
(a) The total number of ballot papers counted for the whole of Each State and (b) the total number of votes cast for each proposition/question for the whole of the State.
- The result of the Referendum shall constitute the entire position of the people of Ogun State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ekiti State, Ondo State and Lagos State (WESTERN/ODUDUWA REGION OF NIGERIA).
- In the event of a YES vote on the Referendum, the Governors of each State shall appoint members into a Constitutional Council of Western/Oduduwa Region .
- The Constitutional Council of Western/Oduduwa Region shall include not more than twelve (12) other members chosen at random throughout the Region and four (4) members from Kwara and Kogi States.
- The Constitutional Council of Western/Oduduwa Region shall be vested with powers to present and represent the views of Western/Oduduwa Region and negotiate on behalf of the Western/Oduduwa Region with all the agencies of the Nigerian Government, non-Governmental organizations and the international Community involved in the process.
B: The short title of this Law is “ Referendum Law of Ekiti State, Ondo State, Osun State, Oyo State, Ogun State and Lagos
SCHEDULE
FORM OF BALLOT PAPER: Ekiti State House of Assembly, Ondo State House of Assembly, Osun State House of Assembly, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ogun State House of Assembly and Lagos State House of Assembly, have decided to consult the People of Each State on this ………. Day of ………, 202 on the proposal to Federate the Government of Ogun State, the Government of Osun State, the Government of Oyo State, the Government of Ekiti State, the Government of Ondo State and the Government of Lagos State with a view to constituting a REGION of Western Nigeria within a Federation of Nigeria.
THUMBPRINT in the box containing: ( YES)
- I AGREE that the Governments of Ekiti State, Ondo State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ogun State and Lagos State should negotiate with each other with a view to forming a FEDERATION of STATES to be known as the ODUDUWA REGION OF WESTERN NIGERIA which shall negotiate with the Yoruba persons in Kwara and Kogi States, whether they want to be part of the ODUDUWA REGION or not; shall further negotiate with the Government of Nigeria and the remaining 30 states and the administration of the Federal Capital Territory to achieve AUTONOMY/SELF-DETERMINATION for the said REGION within a Federation of Nigeria.
OR
(NO)
- I DO NOT AGREE that the Governments of Ekiti State, Ondo State, Oyo State, Osun State, Ogun State and Lagos State should negotiate with each other with a view to forming a FEDERATION of STATES to be known as the ODUDUWA REGION OF WESTERN NIGERIA which shall negotiate with the Yoruba in Kwara and Kogi States as to whether they want to be part of the ODUDUWA REGION or not, and further negotiate with the Government of Nigeria and the remaining 30 states and the administration of the Federal Capital Territory to achieve AUTONOMY/SELF-DETERMINATION for the said REGION within a Federation of Nigeria.
ANNEXURE
Editorial Board
Yoruba Referendum Committee
Source: headline News
