Atiku, PDP Not Truthful About Restructuring – Osinbajo

Atiku, PDP Not Truthful About Restructuring – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in February 16 presidential election, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku have always opposed restructuring of the country.

The vice president who was the chairman at the Bisi Akande Colloquium with the theme: “Nigeria: Achieving National Unity Through Peaceful Restructuring”, said Nigerian have to be careful and vigilant “because they have not changed”.

He specifically mentioned how the government of Olusegun Obasanjo/Abubakar Atiku withheld allocations to local government areas over creation of additional local government areas.

He explained that for effective restructuring, there must be strong states and devolution of powers.

According to him, states should be able to develop at their own space within their resources.

Osinbajo who admitted that truly Nigeria needs restructuring, said, “It is necessary that we strengthen the states so that we can have a rapid development and that we have to pursue this with litigation and not through the parliamentary because I can see that that is the only process that it will make it effective.”

Using Lagos State as an example, he said former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “has to bend down for Lagos State under the administration of Bola Tinubu who fought the federal government on physical federalism and other issues,  this made him to bend on some issues that we purse at the Supreme Court of law most especially over revenue sharing formula.

“This is what we need, we should be able to seek for restructuring through litigation to let the federal government realise what is proper for them to do over states and what the states can do for themselves.

“As we all know that Nigerians has been agitating for restructuring since and we have conducted series of conferences and confabs on restructuring but nothing has been done so far.”

Osinbajo described Chief Bisi Akande as the a gentleman to the core.

He said, “Baba Akande is a one man one wife type of a person, he is an exemplary leaders, he is so simple just like the late Sage Obafemi Awolowo.

Also speaking, former Senate President, Sen. Ken. Nnamani said, ” Those people that were using restructuring to campaign “are liars, they cannot do it, we all need to critically look at it, and fashion a way out for a better restructuring of the country so that the country can move forward.

“We did not opposed the issue of restructuring then when I was the Senate President, what we actually wanted was that we need a federalism system where we will have states as a federating unit and they must be free to develop themselves so that the masses can have great sense of belonging, and they can be well develop.

“Restructuring does not meant disintegration, restructuring does not mean disintegration but to allow our states to develop at their own pace thereby giving the masses the privileges to develop their states economy, and resources to the enhance peace and harmony of the country. I think we need to educate our people on this.” Nnamani stated.

In his own assertion one of the discussants, Prof. Adigun Agbaje a professor of political science at the University of Ibadan said “Nigerians should move away from creating problems that we will now be calling on the likes of Chief Bisi Akande to come and settle for us, national unity and restructuring are global issues that really need urgent attention.

“I agreed that we should have a federation that is centralised. We have to address the issue of poverty in our country, and I think proper restructuring will check those problems. So I am strongly agree with the key note speaking Mr. Nasri El Rufai who has given us the all dimension and who has said that the restructuring will address the issue of poverty in our country”. Adigun said.

In his keynote address, the guest speaker and Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai said restructuring should be about the reform and improvement of “our national efficiency.

“Reforming our governance structures is a crucial part of making our political system conducive to the pace of growth and development that our country needs.

“Along with better structures, fitted for efficiency and devolving responsibilities to the level of government best able to handle them, we must also invest in constructing a new national consensus and adapt our attitudes to uphold the values that enhance us all”, he said.

According to him, it is not surprising that there are pressures for reform.

He said that the federal idea had retained its allure for virtually all segments of the country, saying that perhaps, that was because “it is a choice freely made by our people during the agitations and negotiations for independence.

“Under British auspices, our founding fathers debated and settled for federalism as the political structure for a free and independent Nigeria. It was successfully argued that a diverse country like Nigeria could best thrive as a federation.

“And the political arrangements that ushered Nigeria to independence were unmistakably federalist, enshrined in the 1960 and 1963 constitutions and operationalised through strong regional governments.

In his welcome address, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi noted that Akande was undisputedly qualifies to be named Nigeria’s Politician of the Century, judging by his role and continued personal sacrifices in ensuring the preservation of progressive democratic tenets.

He said the former APC leader is and should rightly be referred to as the very last of the Old Brigades who have remained unbending and unbowed in democratic governance ideals.

According to him, his legacies of incorruptibility, selfless service, self-sacrifice and unblemished loyalty to the ideals and principles of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige, are undoubtedly, worthy.

Consequently, Ajimobi said the choice of the theme for this Colloquium; “Nigeria: Achieving National Unity through Peaceful Restructuring”, underscores the fact that Baba Akande remains one of the most authentic apostles of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, alive, today.

“You will agree with me that the path to nationhood rests on what I will call the essence of governance, which is creating opportunities for the citizenry to thrive, to realize their potential in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has unleashed the great potential of this country. But we can still do more, we can create a country that will work for us and ensure continued progress as experienced in the last three and a half years”,

He said that the path to a continuing prosperity for this great nation to achieve true nationhood lies in forging an acceptable Constitution that will recognize the strength in each of its constituent blocs.

“Such Constitution will ensure a stable polity.  Critically important is realizing that governance is not an end but a means to an end. The end, of course, in material term, equals to “good life” for our people”, he said.

“The political giants that led the old regions competed to do their best for their respective peoples. The Western Region launched the first public television service in Africa, a few years after adopting a free education policy that consolidated its head start in western education by extending universal access to the masses.

“Each of the three original regions founded its own university, built industrial estates, established development finance institutions, and developed hospitality businesses, among others. The regional governments also tried to build the physical infrastructure needed for a modern economy”, he said.

While noting that the pragmatic argument for restructuring was compelling, El-Rufai said restructuring is not just a matter of ideology, it has become one of effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

“Societies make progress when sound and effective governance provides equal opportunities for citizens to realise their fullest potentials”, he added.

Chief Bisi Akande while briefing journalists at the end of the programme urged Nigeria to remain peaceful.

He said, “Nigerians should remain in peaceful coexistence, we should all continue to work harder and be optimistic for a better Nigeria, and this can be achieved through a hard work.”

Dignitaries at the event are the Minister of Communication, and Culture Lai Mohammed, his counterpart from Ministry of Health Professor Isaac Adewole, Former Senate President Sen. Ken Nnamani, Sen. Olu Adetunbi Secretary APC on restructuring, His Royal Majesty Oba Adedokun Aboderin, the national leader of APC Sen. Hammed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor. Nasir El Rufai, Aremo Segun Osoba, Sen. Sola Adeyeye, Former Governor of Osun State. Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Ogun State Governor,  Ibikunle Amosun, Osun State Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, Archbishop of Ibadan Most Rev. Leke Adegunrin, APC gubernatorial candidate and his running mate, Sanwo Olu, Hamsat Obafemi, Prof.  Olu Aina, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, Lagos State Deputy Governor Mrs. Idiat Adebule.  Osun State Deputy Governor. Gboyega Famodun, and others.