VP Osinbajo Comes Under Intense Scrutiny For Opposing Nigeria's Restructuring

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has come under intense criticism for opposing the restructuring of Nigeria.

On Sunday, July 10, the VP was quoted saying that 'restructuring the country was not a wise thing to do as it would make no difference in the country'.

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Monday tackled the Vice President saying he completely missed the point.  According to the group, the VP “may have been under pressure” from the Presidency to support “upholders of the status quo.”

The group said in a statement that Osinbajo  “may have been under pressure” from the Presidency to support “upholders of the status quo.”

“Yes, there is a minority that is insisting that we must continue the way we are just like the minders of some empires that have disappeared from the world map did.

“The Vice-President is free to cast his lot with this group even when silence could have been golden but he should at least try to acquaint himself with the issues so people are not wondering ‘what are we talking and what is he saying,” the statement signed by its publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin explained.

According to Afenifere,  people, who seek high offices, should not be far from issues that  shaped their political environment and pay due attention to civic education.

The statement read in part, “The Vice-President in the faux pas also argued that if states were given half of the resources of the Federal Government, it would not make any difference and that all we need is to diversify into agriculture.

“While we understand that the learned professor, who is from the zone that has been loudest in this call, may have come under pressure to lend his voice to the upholders of the status quo that has brought Nigeria to this sorry pass, 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.”

Similarly,  a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, said Osinbajo’s comment shows that he lacked a proper understanding of the problems besetting the country.

“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?

“Restructuring is what will keep us together in view of the prevailing economic challenges. It will reduce the cost of governance. It makes our diversity to be positive. It is either we 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.

“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.”