Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has canvassed for the protection of the rights of the subnational governments as a deliberate strategy to deepen democratic practices and sustenance of democracy.
Delivering an address at the South West Summit organised by Afenifere in partnership with the new Dawn Commission in Akure, Governor ĥAdeleke represented by the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi said party differences should not warrant unfair treatment of any subnational government, stressing that collaboration for development should be the operating norms.
Recalling the ever readiness of the Osun state government for partnership with federal agencies within the framework of the constitution, the governor pushes for apolitical positive interaction between national and subnational entities even as he urges corrective lessons where rights and privileges of the federating partners have been violated.
The governor who said Osun should have hosted the summit said the Osun scenario manifests a subsisting infraction and trampling on the expressed rights of the subnational entity by the national authority, informing the audience that “There is an ongoing wilful breach of the constitution to deprive a subnational entity its due rights simply because it does not belong to the same party with the ruling party at the centre.
The Governor spoke further: “If we are to study and review the state of engagements between the centre and the states, Osun therefore provides extensive data on how not to treat a subnational entity in a truly democratic environment.
“Permit me to note that Osun right from the inception of my administration in 2022, designed a robust engagement agenda with the centre. I issued a standing instruction to all ministries and agencies to treat all correspondence from the federal government or its agencies under 24 hours. I further directed robust attendance of Osun state officials at all federal events.
“All requests for data from federal levels are responded to within 48 hours even as Osun is deliberately involved in all peer review any federal agency organises. We set out as a government to deepen federal – state partnership across the real sector of the economy as well as in the soft areas including fiscal governance.
“From 2022 till date, Osun holds the records of constant participation and mention in critical federal reports. Interestingly, our state won quite a number of medals in national sectoral review organised by the Federal government. I am happy to announce that our state is ever ready to host federal sectoral events. From 2022, we have hosted more than 12 of such events, all in our bid to demonstrate willingness for partnership with the centre.
“In the area of real sector collaboration, our government took up reconstruction of some federal roads. Up till date, we are still struggling to get a refund. We sought to facilitate the take off of many federal abandoned projects; we met brick walls. Our olive branch to enhance collaboration is clouded by political partisanship actively promoted by operatives of the ruling political party at the centre. We discovered over time that partisan consideration has become the yardstick for federal interactions with Osun state, a development that threatens to fracture intergovernmental relations.
“Distinguished scholars and guests may want to note that Osun stands in a unique position among the south western states on the subject of this conference. Osun is the ancestral home of the head of the Federal Government. We have party differences with the party controlling the centre. Even with the best of positive reach out, it is sad to note that some operatives of the ruling federal party have adopted an adversarial approach to Osun State.
“Federal projects and initiatives are now being routed through party structures instead of Osun state government machinery especially. Nominations and access to federal opportunities are channelled through party organisations with official state structures deliberately excluded. The dynamics of interaction between national and subnational entities is not only undermined but threatened.
“A troubling dimension was introduced earlier this year when the rule of law was replaced with the rule of the thumb. The issue here relates to handling of the state Security and local government matters. It is trite in every democratic order that rule of law within the ambit of the constitution is the regulatory framework for wielding of state powers.
“In the case of Osun, federal power is being applied outside the regulation of the constitution as the public have known since the beginning of this year. Politicisation of federal power application poses serious threats to peaceful and productive Intergovernmental relations.
“It would interest the audience to know that in Osun state ,some security agencies openly protect and defend ruling party operatives even when they act in ways and manners against the law and the constitution. In Osun today, federal party officials boast of powers to deploy security apparatus to witch-hunt state officials. On many occasions, officials of the federal ruling party have openly declared their readiness to hijack the state whether the people voted for them or not. Worst still, they have security cover when making such provocative declarations.
“As if that is not enough, the Osun local government fund was seized without any court order from earlier this year. Duly elected local government officials were not allowed to assume office and those sacked by a subsisting court order were forced on the local government secretariats by federal power and security apparatus. All the facts are in the public domain.
“I cite all above details to shed light on impunity and abuse of power as a major impediment to a virile national and subnational collaboration. As a government Osun state has demonstrated the willingness and readiness for productive partnership and interaction. Despite hostile posturing, Osun is always a top participant in federal peer review of the 36 states. In our engagements with the centre, several federal agencies have recognised Osun’ s positive records in governance delivery.
Osun won the first position in the area of access to primary health care across the South West. The challenge was organised by the Federal ministry of Health. Osun’ debt has been reduced by over 40 percent according to a review by the Federal Debt Management Office. Osun’s ranking has moved from 33rd to 7th position in national examination ranking according to the federal agency, NECO. Osun state was recognised as a role model state in the school feeding programme by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian services. Our state infrastructure deficit has reduced from 80 percent in 2022 to about 40 percent. In tech innovation, Osun is today the first state to domesticate the Federal Startup Act. In climate change ,Osun was just rated number 6 in the federation for proactive actions on climate change governance.
“It is our position that the South West must elevate power applications beyond partisan considerations. There must be a strategic outlook having development of the region as a priority irrespective of governing parties at subnational level. We must embark on the development of a circular cargo railway project for the South West in partnership with the Federal Government. The DAWN Commission has done a fantastic job in that direction.
“South West must additionally develop a network of dry ports across the zone, all linked with the circular railway project. Our region must in addition leverage on federal support to develop agro industrialisation with each state adopting a product in which it has relative strength. For security, we must enhance and strengthen Amotekun instead of current efforts to demonise the body based on partisan considerations”, the governor told the gathering.
