Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has called for sweeping constitutional amendments that reflect the realities of Nigeria’s federal structure, including the creation of state police, control of natural resources by states, and official recognition of Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
Speaking on Friday at the South-West Centre B Zonal Public Hearing on the Constitution Review, held at The Dome in Akure, Aiyedatiwa said the ongoing constitutional review should not only be about amending documents but about aligning governance with people’s yearnings and development needs.
He argued that the current centralised policing system has become ineffective in addressing local security threats and stressed the need for states to establish and control their own police forces. Citing the Amotekun Corps’ relative success in the South-West, he described it as a strong indicator that state policing can work in Nigeria.
“The centralised police structure is overstretched and underfunded. State policing is the way forward. States understand their terrain and the peculiar security issues they face,” he said.
The governor also called for a new revenue-sharing formula that would grant states greater fiscal autonomy. He advocated for resource control by subnational governments, suggesting a model where states retain a majority share and remit about 40% to the Federal Government.
“Our mineral resources are trapped by bureaucracy. Ondo is blessed with bitumen, limestone, granite, and kaolin, yet illegal mining thrives because of weak federal oversight,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He further demanded the inclusion of Ondo State’s 33 LCDAs in the Constitution, urging the National Assembly to treat them as full-fledged local government areas. According to him, the LCDAs were created to bring governance closer to the people and enhance grassroots development.
While declaring support for state creation, Aiyedatiwa drew the line on any move to tamper with the territorial integrity of Ondo State. “We are not opposed to state creation,” he said, “but we will not surrender an inch of Ondo land to any proposed new state.”
The public hearing, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, drew participants from Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun States.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Abiodun Oyebanji, represented by the Attorney General, Mr. Dayo Apata, called for gender equity, protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, and recognition of traditional institutions.
Osun State Deputy Governor, Mr. Kola Adewusi, who stood in for Governor Ademola Adeleke, raised concerns over the rising cost of political campaigns and governance. He warned that the absence of campaign spending regulations could undermine democratic processes.
Traditional rulers also lent their voices. The Olowo of Owo and Chairman of the Ondo State Council of Obas, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, demanded constitutional roles for monarchs, insisting that their proximity to the grassroots makes them crucial stakeholders in governance.
Women’s rights advocates, led by the Chairperson of the Nigerian League of Women Voters, Mrs. Titilayo Owolabi, submitted a petition with 33,000 signatures urging the inclusion of more women in political offices and governance.
The committee received several memoranda from stakeholders, including civil society organisations, professional bodies, religious groups, and labour unions — all clamouring for a Constitution that promotes equity, true federalism, and inclusive governance.
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