Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu said President Muhammadu Buhari needs to imbibe the Federal Character principle in dealing with the country.
The governor, who spoke on a TVC programme on Wednesday, said the meeting held by the Southern governors on Tuesday was not to divide the country but find a lasting solution to the problem of ragging insecurity in the country, among others.
“Discussing federal character by Mr President in the meeting yesterday didn’t mean we want to impose on him on how to run the country. Of course, he can appoint people that he feels are the best, but we must also consider what the constitution said about federal character, which is considering the appointment from all the regions”.
Speaking on calls for a break up in some quarters in the country, Akeredolu said the break up of Nigeria would not benefit anyone.
According to him, “To us, we don’t believe in secession. One Nigeria is what we believe in; we will gain more in remaining as one but this association must be guided well.
“We must meet to rediscuss the condition of staying together. One of these is restructuring which will let us discuss things like fiscal policy, where more money should come to the states rather than from the Federal Government.
“Another is the need for state police to combat insecurity in various states.”
On Fulani herdsmen, Akeredolu emphasized that the state governors would not condone criminal elements in their various states.
“This is not about a tribe but criminal elements. We have various Fulani men doing legitimate business in our various states and we don’t have any problem with them. For instance, Dangote is a Fulani man and he runs his business legitimately in Lagos and other places. Who will ask him to leave Lagos?”
Recall that southern states governors met in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday, where the generally agreed that open grazing should be banned in the region and asked Buhari to urgently call for a national conference to discuss insecurity and other issues threatening the nation’s unity.