Osinbajo backs restructuring saying it will enable states grow and to provide better security

VICE president Professor Yemi Osinbajo has added his weight behind calls for restructuring pointing out that states deserve greater freedom to control their resources to enable them increase their income and internal security.

Since the Buhari administration came to power in 2015, calls for the restructuring of the nation have become deafening, with numerous pan-cultural bodies saying it is the only hope for Nigeria. So far, President Muhammadu Buhari has remained mum on the matter, with the government refusing to engage in the debate and Professor Osinbajo's comments are the first response by this administration to the matter.

Yesterday, Professor  Osinbajo who made the comments in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said he agreed with some Nigerians clamouring for the restructuring of the country. Speaking shortly after he attended the Great Nigeria Pastors conference held at University Teaching Hospital, the vice president disclosed that states deserved greater freedom to control their resources, increase their income and internal security.

Professor Osinbajo 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 issued raised which I agree with is that states should be able to control their resources, control their own security and 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 secure when they can control their security which bring to the fore the issue of state police, as it will give them confidence.”

Speaking on the theme Nigeria of our Dreams, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, the chairman of Oyo State chapter of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, said that Nigerians deserve to know the truth about how government was handling some issues which have been of concern to them. He said Nigerians would want to know what the government that put the fight against corruption as its cardinal programme, is doing to fight graft within its government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bishop Adelakun said:  “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 added that the recent upsurge in killings and kidnappings by the terrorist sect Boko Haram in the northeast and the government's lukewarm attitude to checkmating the nefarious activities of killer herdsmen were of grave concerns to Christians. Bishop Adelakun said Christians would continue to pray for the release of the Dapchi School girl Leah Sharibu, who is still being held by Boko Haram for refusing to deny her faith.