By Dennis Udoma

UYO-Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Arc. (Obong) Victor Attah has again said that, unless Nigeria adopts the true fiscal federalism system, the country would continue to wallow in its current challenges and heading towards disintegration.

Obong Victor Attah

Attah, made the call during an interview on Planet FM 101.1 radio monitored in Uyo yesterday saying that, the only true solution to the plethora of socio-economic problems facing the country was true fiscal federalism.

According to him, ‘‘the country would have made more significant strides, if true fiscal federalism was entrenched in the system and, while states would look inward to develop their inherent potentials.

‘‘Under fiscal federalism, as it were in the days of the regions, would contribute 50 per cent of their resources to the central government and use 50 per cent for the development of their territories, and the multiplier effects will douse 90 per cent of tensions we have in the country.

“Fiscal federalism will change many things that will make the country to grow” adding that, corruption by governors was the bane of development in the country.

Attah, who is the Co-Chairman of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, also joined the clarion calls by well-meaning Nigerians for two party system, advising political parties with similar ideologies to merge them in order to make the party stronger and strengthen sound party ideology rather than serving one’s interests against others.

“Two party system will be good for this country, so that when one is not doing well, the people should have the choice to vote the other” calling on the citizenry to defend their votes and, always demand from their Governors how tax payers monies were being used.

On the Niger-Delta, Obong Attah explained that, the need for a voice for the region necessitated the formation of Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, as an umbrella organization for the people of the region like; the Afenifere in the West; Ohanaeze in the South-East and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in the North.

While applauding the federal government’s anti-corruption and decimating Boko Haram, urged President Mohammadu Buhari to use the same force in dealing with the challenges of herdsmen in the country.