Former senator that represented Ekiti North Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, Ayo Arise has called for the total devolution of power, security and the energy sectors of the economy.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also urged government at all levels to embrace credit financing, stressing that the decentralising the key sectors remains the viable means of revamping the country’s ailing economy.
Arise who was in the Senate between 2011-2015 stated this while speaking with journalists on the state of the nation, stating that taking such actions will naturally address youths unemployment, insecurity, high cost of petroleum products and other challenges facing the nation.
The former lawmaker who told Nigerians to start to disabuse their minds that the country has become so big for anybody to run from the centre said, “If you don’t decentralize, the problem will continue to make even the president unpopular.”
“The states must begin to generate their own electricity. What is happening in Abia State is a welcome development, and I think that’s the way to go if we are ready to tackle the power crisis once and for all”.
The APC chieftain said time has come for government to encourage more private individuals to set up modular refineries as a measure to address the energy crisis in the country.
Arise who was elated that the call for state police is gaining momentum in the National Assembly, also urged the lawmakers to expedite action on the matter to stem the tide of insecurity in all parts of the country.
“If state police is allowed to function, a number of our youth will be engaged. You can imagine every state having their own police, ditto the university, many of our youths risking the streets will be recruited”.
The former federal lawmaker who wished President Bola Tinubu well and prayed that many of the policies will work said, “I believe strongly that these policies would work if Mr President is able to curb corruption and fight saboteurs.”
“If we respect our laws and ensure that the laws did not only count for the poor people but for everybody, certainly, Nigeria will become a great nation. I have seen the efforts and commitments of Mr President towards making Nigeria better,” Arise said.