Ayodele Olalere
South West governors and monarchs on Sunday called for the review and implementation of 2014 National Constitutional Conference to tackle issues of security and economy in the country.
The national conference was convened by the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration but President Muhammadu Buhari, when he came on board, said he would not implement the reports.
However after a meeting of governors and traditional rulers of South-west with a presidential delegation, including ministers from the region, in the aftermath of EndSARS protest, which held in Lagos, the stakeholders in a communique urged President Muhammadu Buhari to review and implement the report.
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The Communique, jointly signed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and Chairman, South West Governors Forum, Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, among other things, called for “preventative actions aimed at prevention of repeat of what happened in the country.
“The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the South-west states.
”There is need to undertake preventive actions aimed at prevention of repeat of what happened in the country following the ENDSARS demonstrators. Security needs to be strengthened in all states.
”We wish to encourage the Nigeria Police by responding to their needs and appeal to them to do more to protect lives and properties and enhance security all over the country,” the communique stated.
It added: “We call for specific measures and proposals to repair damage done to the physical infrastructure and economic assets of the South-west, review of reports of constitutional conferences including 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations especially with reference to security, economy, equal treatment for citizens all over the country.
”There is need to review the closure and permit resumption of economic and trading activities.
”A comprehensive programme that addresses youth employment and empowerment should be prioritized. Closer coordination and complementary between the states and the Federal Government. In this regard, the curricular of tertiary institutions should be reviewed, with emphasis placed on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.”
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Other recommendations are “call on Federal Government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and those regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. 2015 Cyber Act will also be fully used.
“Federal Government should ensure that technology is used effectively for the advancement of the Nigerian security and not its destruction by working with the technology cum social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, while every effort should be made to resolve the impasse between ASUU and the Federal Government so that students can return to school in earnest.”