‘Nigeria needs more local governments, not states’
The Chairman and Member of the board of Trustees, Guardian Council Member, Eko Club, Alhaji Abdulfatai Dawodu, has called for the creation of more local governments as against further state
The Chairman and Member of the board of Trustees, Guardian Council Member, Eko Club, Alhaji Abdulfatai Dawodu, has called for the creation of more local governments as against further state creation, saying effective grassroots administration holds the key to solving Nigeria’s socio-political and developmental challenges.
Alhaji Dawodu spoke at the fourth edition of the annual Mabinuori Day celebration held on Lagos Island.
According to him, the clamour for restructuring and additional states has not yielded the desired results over the years, noting that Nigeria should stop at its current 36 states and concentrate on strengthening local governments.
“I do not think that we need a restructuring of this country anymore. What we need is the creation of more local governments,” he said.
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The elder statesman stressed that local and state governments must operate as partners in progress rather than in a master servant relationship if democratic dividends are to reach the grassroots.
He argued that no state can be created without minority populations, adding that well-structured local governments would provide homogeneous communities, reduce feelings of domination and promote inclusive development.
“There is no state that will be created without a minority population. Effective utilisation of the tools of local government administration will eliminate the fear of domination by minority groups. Frankly, I do not see any need for the recently created regional development commissions. Their functions can easily be handled by states and local governments. Their creation is a waste of resources and they should be abolished,” he added.
The elder statesman urged lawmakers and policy makers to critically examine his book, Transparency and Integrity in Leadership: The Memoirs of a Nigerian Public Servant, which he said outlines practical governance reforms based on decades of experience in local administration.
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Dawodu said the Mabinuori Day celebration was organised to thank God for the past year, review the family’s stewardship and promote unity among members.
He disclosed that the Mabinuori family had completed 23 shops by the Marina, with four more expected soon, while the old Mabinuori House had been demolished for redevelopment into a four-storey complex with about 100 shops.
Dawodu also said the family would continue to preserve its cultural heritage through the annual hosting of the Igunnuko masquerade, a tradition dating back to 1848.
Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Olusi, stressed the need for cultural and family based celebrations such as Mabinuori Day to be sustained, noting that they play a critical role in preserving the history, values and identity of the Yoruba people.
He said such gatherings help strengthen family bonds and ensure that traditions passed down by forebears are not lost to modern influences.
He urged parents and teachers to deliberately inculcate the Yoruba language in children, warning that the gradual neglect of indigenous languages poses a threat to cultural survival.
According to him, language remains a vital carrier of culture and values, adding that teaching children to speak Yoruba at home and in schools would help safeguard the heritage of future generations.
