Edo group pushes regional govt to end terrorism, kidnapping

A Benin-based pressure group, God and Peoples Parliament, on Wednesday, said that the regional government would curb terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and all kinds of destruction to human life.

Convener of the group, Dr Dele Oluwatade, while addressing journalists in Benin, Edo State capital, said the regional government would work if the terms and conditions applied.

“Every system on earth has terms and conditions. They should give us a politically sound regional government, not a federation of states but a federation of regions.

“The regional government would end years of Nigerians languishing under the yoke of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and all kinds of destruction to human life.

“The states may be the active labour force that will generate the taxes to run the economy, the unit of production, but not the unit of regional federation relationship.

“But we will recommend seven regional federations, because the South-South region is particularly more disadvantaged than any of the regions that are being considered now.

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“There must be provision for a referendum that allows the masses of the people to vote on major national issues as they may arise. The politicians know what we mean,” Dr Oluwatade noted.

He said the Northwest, Northeast, Middle Belt, Southwest, South-South and Southeast would have more formidable control over terrorism and banditry in their regions and Nigeria at large under a regional government arrangement.

Speaking on the proposed state police bill, he noted that each state should control its state police without recourse to any outside commission or officer.

He alleged that the regions “which produce most of the violent criminals in Nigeria do not want the states where the offences were committed to have the power to try and sentence them.

“Let Nigeria rise from the dust. Let each one develop his region. May God bless Nigeria, the country of great nations.”