Most Reverend Adewale Martins, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, has advocated for the reinstatement of fiscal federalism and the establishment of state police as essential measures for Nigeria’s advancement and security. He made this plea on Sunday during a Thanksgiving Mass held to commemorate his 65th birthday anniversary.
Martins emphasized the critical need for returning to the federal system and implementing state police to strategically position the nation for enhanced development. He highlighted that these actions could help address agitations for self-determination and foster national unity.
The event, hosted at the Holy Cross Cathedral, provided an avenue for both clergy and laity to engage in discussions regarding governmental policies. During the occasion, Archbishop Martins also expressed support for reinstating the old National Anthem, believing its words could reignite patriotism among Nigerians.
Furthermore, Martins addressed the prevalent issues Nigerians are advocating for, including the implementation of an effective federal system of governance. He stressed the significance of establishing a state police structure to bolster the security of lives and property across the nation.
“If the legislature and Executive can exert the same energy and commitment they applied in the passage and signing into law of the reversed anthem on salient issues agitating the minds of the people such as state police, fiscal federalism and LG autonomy, the country will get better,” he said.
According to him, Nigerians have become impatient of unending despondency that has caused many depression and loss of lives because of improperly administered policies.
The archbishop thanked God for the gift of life, and urged people to continue to pray for divine directives on the leaders to do what was expected of them.
He said that without prayers, things might have been worse.