LAGOS, Nigeria – Former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko, advocated for the devolution of power to sub-national governments to address governance challenges in Nigeria during an address on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
Okay News reports that Mimiko called for the adoption of the biblical Jethro principle to decentralise authority and resources while speaking at the 74th Annual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Mimiko, who previously served as Minister of Housing and Urban Development under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, presented a paper titled “The government and politics mountain.” He stated that the excessive concentration of power at the central government level is the root cause of issues including ethnocentrism, corruption, insecurity, and poverty.
“The ‘Jethro principle’ teaches us that effective governance must be built on merit, capacity and capability,” Mimiko said. “Power and responsibility must be pushed closer to the people, so local issues can be handled locally, while only national matters rise to the centre. That is the template for true federalism.”
While referencing ongoing efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to decentralise policing and resource management, Mimiko urged Christians and people of all faiths to actively participate in politics. He noted that government policies directly affect the welfare of citizens in the areas of security, education, employment, and religious freedom.
“Politics should not be viewed merely as a contest for power, but as the process through which authority is exercised for the common good. Government is the institution that deploys such authority to an organised society,” Mimiko said.
