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LequteMan
Guest
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been slammed by the Afenifere and a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, for criticizing calls for Nigeria's restructuring.
In a statement by its publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said Osinbajo's premise that restructuring won't make any difference is wrong.
“...we would like to respectfully admonish him to be sure-footed on the subject before he speaks next time.
“He misses the entire debate by engaging in the reductionist argument, narrowing the whole issue to taking more money from the Federal Government to the states. Yes, fiscal federalism is part of the argument but the issue goes beyond the monthly Federal Allocation Committee.”
Restructuring is to make Nigeria go back to true practice of federalism wherein, mineral resources that abound in all states would be freed from the exclusive list so that states would move into prosperity, it added.
Ezeife on the other hand was more direct.
“I am not sure the Vice-President was heard rightly. But if he actually said that, he cannot be right. Does he want to join President (Muhammadu) Buhari against the whole country?" Ezeife queried.
According to him, restructuring won't tear the country apart but will reduce the cost of governance. He said Nigeria should return to the six(three) regional structures or 12 regional units.
“There have been agitations from the North, the South and even the Middle Belt are all clamouring for restructuring," he said. "Restructuring is an idea in which Nigerians have agreed is the solution to the problems posed by our dysfunctional federalism. All are clamouring for restructuring; so Osinbajo cannot be right.”
In a statement by its publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere said Osinbajo's premise that restructuring won't make any difference is wrong.
“...we would like to respectfully admonish him to be sure-footed on the subject before he speaks next time.
“He misses the entire debate by engaging in the reductionist argument, narrowing the whole issue to taking more money from the Federal Government to the states. Yes, fiscal federalism is part of the argument but the issue goes beyond the monthly Federal Allocation Committee.”
Restructuring is to make Nigeria go back to true practice of federalism wherein, mineral resources that abound in all states would be freed from the exclusive list so that states would move into prosperity, it added.
Ezeife on the other hand was more direct.
“I am not sure the Vice-President was heard rightly. But if he actually said that, he cannot be right. Does he want to join President (Muhammadu) Buhari against the whole country?" Ezeife queried.
According to him, restructuring won't tear the country apart but will reduce the cost of governance. He said Nigeria should return to the six(three) regional structures or 12 regional units.
“There have been agitations from the North, the South and even the Middle Belt are all clamouring for restructuring," he said. "Restructuring is an idea in which Nigerians have agreed is the solution to the problems posed by our dysfunctional federalism. All are clamouring for restructuring; so Osinbajo cannot be right.”
