‘Restructuring Should Allow States Greater Freedom’
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Friday, said he agreed with some Nigerians clamouring for the restructuring of the country.
Osinbajo, who spoke to newsmen after the Great Nigeria Pastors conference which held at the Theophilus Ogunlesi Hall, University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, also disclosed that states deserved greater freedom to control their resources, increase their income and internal security.
He said: “Restructuring is very important to us, as a people, and as a nation, but we also have to be careful with what we mean by restructuring.
“One of the issues raised which I agree with is that states should be able to control their resources, control their own security, they should be able to generate more income and exercise greater freedom.
“We discussed about security and we believe we should do more. We agreed that people feel more secured when they can control their security, which brings to fore the issue of state police. It will give them confidence.”
Osinbajo, who expressed optimism about the future of the country, said the forces of darkness were being fought for light to shine.
Earlier, the Vice President was put on the spot by some Christian leaders in the state to explain what they described as “some unsatisfactory events” in the country.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, Nigeria of our Dream, Chairman, Oyo State Chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of the leaders, specifically told Osinbajo that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about how government was handling some issues that have been of concern to them.
Adelakun asked the Vice President to explain why most of the security heads in Nigeria were appointed from one ethnic group, if the government observed the first stanza of the National Anthem that recognises fairness and justice.
He said Nigerians would want to know what the government that put the fight against corruption as its cardinal programme is doing to fight corruption within its fold and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“We pastors want to know what the government that put fighting against corruption in the front burner is doing about “Mainagate” and other government officials alleged of corruption.
“Many Nigerians believe that the anti- corruption war is selective and that is why it is not effective.”
He said the recent upsurge in killings and kidnappings by Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast and government’s seemingly lukewarm attitude to checkmating the activities of killer herdsmen, was of grave concern to Christians, adding: “We have been told that Boko Haram had been technically defeated, but they have killed many and kidnapped over 120 people this year alone.”
