A former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the over-centralisation of power and resources in the centre, as according to him, it breeds corruption and mediocrity.
Abubakar said this while delivering the 11th convocation lecture of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
“The excessive centralization of power and concentration of resources in the federal government have not served us well,” Atiku said.
“Instead, they have encouraged a domineering all-knowing federal government that stretches itself into every aspect of our lives with little positive results to show.
“Rather we have had excessive corruption, mediocrity, generations of citizens who hope to become rich without work, emasculation of state and local initiatives and a lack of creative and healthy competition among states as they all look towards Abuja for handouts every month.
“The development strategies that have produced 13 million out-of-school children, millions of unemployed or under-employed youth, including those with university degrees, and a level of insecurity that threatens to splinter the country into tiny bits controlled by armed warlords are clearly the wrong ones. We must change direction.
“We must reverse the concentration of power and resources at the centre. And we must make serious and conscious efforts to identify the potentials and strengths of each state and section of this country and work to maximize its contribution to the development of our country as it is supported to develop itself. That is how you allow greater autonomy while pulling together.”
