The alliance forged by the South West, South East and South South geo-political zones of the country prior to the com­mencement of the Nation­al Conference in Abuja may have collapsed over the latest decision by the Yoruba delegates from the South West to drop their initial demand for a regional system of govern­ment for confederation.

This followed the South West delegates’ disillusion­ment with its hitherto part­ners’ opposition to devolu­tion of powers and fiscal federalism, which they see as key issue to be pursued at the talk shop.

The new move, sources told Daily Sun last night, was being pushed by a group of young Turks among the delegates, known as New Trend Movement, headed by Chief Niyi Akin­tola (SAN) and Asiwaju Seyi Adegbuyi. The group is mounting pressure on Yo­ruba elders in the conference to review their relationship with the two regional blocs and re-strategise.

According to leaders of the movement, South West delegates were frustrated by the other zones’ perceived renege on demands already agreed upon before the con­ference commenced, which included fiscal federalism and devolution of powers at the centre.

They alleged that the zones were conniving with the North to see that the sta­tus quo remained, a situation they described as negating the principles of equity and fairness to the states that make up the country.

One of them told Daily Sun that the Yoruba dele­gates held the issues of fiscal federalism and devolution of powers as article of faith but were being opposed by zones that wanted the status quo to remain.

“The issues of devolution of powers and fiscal feder­alism are key issues to us but they are not well treated by the South South and the South East delegates. They appear not to key into our agreement and idea any­more. So, there is no more basis for solidarity. Restruc­turing is the major thing. We can no longer continue to reach compromises that do not generate anything,” he said.


Source: Sun