Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has blamed the poor development in states to the federal government’s inability to restructure and unbundle the states
The Governor who stated this when he played host to officials of the National drug law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Akure, called on the Federal Government to unbundle the exclusive list to allow states in the country to develop
He said: ”If our fiscal policy is not changed and what comes to states does not change, it will be difficult for states to help develop federal establishments in their domains
“The time has come to change our fiscal policy. The time has come to unbundle the exclusive list. Whatever area we can assist federal institutions, we will always support.”
The Governor urged the agency to partner with the state on the pathway towards the cultivation of cannabis Sativa for medicinal purposes, adding that “the strain of Cannabis Sativa at Ogbese in Ondo State is the best in the world charging NDLEA to look towards sensitization of the public and academic world to make it work.
“No government will sit down and support drug abuse, particularly the scale at which it is going now in Nigeria. In Nigeria today, there are many substances.
“They are deadly as cocaine. People today abuse codeine and so many things that are deadly.
“I agree with you that drug abuse fuels banditry , kidnapping and every form of criminality that we are faced with. Those who are involved in this have to get high to come and take a risk with their lives.
“When you see what they do, you will agree that they are high. So, we know and I do agree with you entirely. We are ready to cooperate with you.”
Earlier, The Zonal Commander of NDLEA Zone J, Mr. Parah Julius Bawa said his visit to the Governor is occasioned because he has been posted to Ondo State as the Zonal Commander of NDLEA Zone J.
Bawa who said Zone J of the NDLEA comprises of Ondo and Ekiti State, pointed out that the creation of the zone was mandated by the Chairman of the Agency, Brigadier General Muhammad Marwa to expand the frontiers of the existing structure to fourteen zonal commands
