CONSTITUTION REVIEW: SANWO-OLU RESTATES CALL FOR SPECIAL STATUS FOR LAGOS

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has restated the need for a Special Status for Lagos State, stating that such a request is long overdue. According to Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hazmat, such a request has become imperative owing to the strategic position of the state, especially as the former federal capital of the nation and the burdens it bears. The Governor who made this request on Saturday while speaking at the South-West Centre A (Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States) Lagos Centre Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held at the Watercress Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, also reiterated the call for State Police, saying state policing is not about semantics but about protecting the people. He was of the view that wherever the government of a nation moves its capital from one state to another, the government does not abandon such a state to carry the burden left, but compensates the state with a special status. He therefore urged the federal government to be fair to the people of Lagos by granting it a special status as a former federal capital of the nation. He said, “Any State that was once the federal capital of the nation can not just inherit the assets and liabilities of the entire country, but then be forgotten of the responsibilities that come with those assets. As a nation, let us be fair to the people of Lagos by granting the state a special status.” Speaking further, the Governor stressed the need for the National Assembly to ensure the listing of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) on the Constitution, adding that these LCDAs since creation in 2003 have succeeded in bringing governance closer to the people and accelerate grassroot development in the state and needed to be listed and recognized in the nation’s constitution. He noted that the public hearing is not just another chapter in the country’s constitutional history but a special and invaluable chance for the people of Lagos and the entire South West region to have a direct and meaningful say in shaping the nation's highest law. He said, “As we embark on this critical process of reviewing our constitution, we must be guided by the principles of inclusiveness, equity, and justice. We must listen to everyone, men and women, young and old, from all corners of our communities. Their hopes, worries, and dreams should shape the amendments that come out of this process.” While commending the Committee of House Representatives for their dedication to a transparent and inclusive review process, he charged all stakeholders and citizens to participate by canvassing their views with clarity of purpose. The Governor reaffirmed that his government is fully committed to the principles of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law. “We will keep supporting all initiatives aimed at strengthening our constitutional framework and deepening the roots of our democracy,” he said. Earlier, Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives and Chairman South West Centre ‘A’, Rt. Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim Ayokunle, stated that the committee is fully committed to conducting the review process with utmost fairness, openness, and transparency, saying that they recognise the importance of the stakeholders’ voices and the critical role each plays in shaping the future of the nation. Ayokunle added that the committee’s goal is to ensure that the review reflects the diverse aspirations of the people, upholding justice and equity, stressing that the committee is to ensure that the review process is transparent and all stakeholders remain informed of the review at every step of the review. The Chairman, therefore, assured that all memoranda and suggestions addressed to the committee will be carefully consolidated and given the attention they deserve at the national assembly level. In their goodwill messages, the Speakers of the Lagos, Ogun and Oyo State House of Assemblies, gave their support for the Traditional Rulers to be recognised by the constitution, devolution of power from the centre, state police, Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) be enlisted in the constitution of Nigeria, waterways permit be transferred to the state government, Insecurity, among other issues that were peculiar to the region.