Pauline Onyibe 
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has argued that there is nothing wrong with the current Federal System of Government but insisted that it is the actors that are making it look bad. This is just as he also faulted the recent Supreme Court judgment which granted autonomy to the local governments adding that the judgment didn’t take into cognisance the provisions of Section 261 of the Nigerian Constitution before making the final judgment.
Speaking on Thursday in Yenagoa during the 9th memorial anniversary and public lecture of late D.S.P Alamieyeseigha, the governor who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo argued that there is nothing like true or fiscal federalism adding that these are words used to deceive the unenlightened in the society. Laying emphasis on what late DSP Alamiesiegha stood for, he called on all to lay more emphasis on restructuring, maintaining that the state is getting 13 per cent derivation and 87 per cent deprivation. He said: “It is a matter of the actors not the actions. We are not blaming the federal system of movement; it is the actors that are not playing their role very well. There is nothing like true federalism and fiscal federalism. Those are deceitful acronyms to mislead unsuspecting and unenlightened people.” “I also want to clarify the issue of the Supreme Court judgment. There is no doubt that there are lacunas in the judgment because they didn’t strike down section 261 especially 3,4,5,6 which talked about jack accounts and so it is going to be a thorn in the flesh.” “And I have always said that when it comes to political issues, legalism should be thrown away, politics should be used to resolve them. Now we are having issues because the constriction under Section 7 provides that the states have the power to communicate, create, deal with and conduct the election for the local governments. And so you can’t remove that power from them.” He said late former governor meant different things to different people, “but unfortunately he was misunderstood because he was misunderstood and his activities led to his untimely death. “We must take solace in the fact that he made indelible contributions towards the development of Nigeria and Bayelsa in particular.
