President Bola Tinubu will admit a draft bill on Friday that aims to return Nigeria to a indigenous system of government. The bill, created by Akin Fapohunda, a leader in the Yoruba socio-artistic group Afenifere, is called “ A Bill for an Act to substitute the annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. ” It seeks to establish new laws under the title “ The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria New Governance Model for Nigeria Act 2024. ” Last week, The PUNCH reported that the House of Representatives, through its spokesperson Akin Rotimi and the Chairman of the Committee on Rules and Business, disowned the bill, stating it hadn’t been listed for discussion in the ongoing indigenous review. still, Fapohunda verified to our pressman
on Thursday that the bill would be transferred to the President on Friday. He stated, “ I ’m submitting my letter( draft bill) moment but I’ll stay for seven days before releasing it to the public. ” Fapohunda, also representing the Coalition of Indigenous Ethnical Ethnicities, explained to The PUNCH that the association is proposing to divide Nigeria into eight geo- political regions with provisional boundaries. According to Fapohunda, the proposed regions include The Southern region, comprising Akwa- Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross Rivers States, and conceivably including the Annang, Effik, Ekoi, Ibibio, Oro Ohaji/ Egbema in Southern Imo, Adonia, Efemia, Ijaw, Ogoni, Bini, Ishan, Isoko, Urhobo, and the Ijaw- speaking people in Northern Ondo State. The South Eastern region, conforming of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. The Western region, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, and Ekiti States, and conceivably the Yoruba- speaking people in Kogi and the Igbomina people in Kwara State, as well as the Itsekiri people of Delta State and Akoko- Edo people of Edo State. TheMid-Western Region, made up of Edo and Delta States, and conceivably the Anioma people. The Eastern Middle Belt Region, including Northern Cross River, Southern Kaduna, Southern Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. The Western Middle Belt Region, comprising Southern Kebbi, corridor of Kwara and Niger States. The North Eastern Region, including corridor of Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Jigawa, and Yobe States. The North Western Region, conforming of Kaduna, corridor of Kebbi, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States. Fapohunda explained that the coalition envisions a two- league government structure, with civil and indigenous governments, where regions would have the autonomy to manage their own affairs, including creatingsub-entities grounded on agreed- upon constitutions. The CIEN also proposed maintaining the current boundaries of the 36 countries but simplifying political administration by introducing a new indigenous government frame with superintendent and legislative functions headed by a Premier.
