APC says no to restructuring

The All Progressives Congress, APC was
yesterday under fire from friends and foes after
its national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun
distanced the party from any pre-election
promise to restructure the country.
Odigie-Oyegun claimed that the promise to
devolve more powers to the states and adopt
the principles of true federalism as enunciated in
the party’s 2015 manifesto did not amount to
restructuring.
Odigie-Oyegun’s assertion, coming on the heels
of a declaration by APC governors to support the
growing calls for restructuring, appeared to put
the national leadership and the governors who
are now dictating the policy for the party to be
at odds.
Briefing newsmen Thursday night after a
meeting of the party’s National Working
Committee, NWC, and its governors at the Imo
State Government Lodge in Abuja, Chief Odigie-
Oyegun said the party never promised to
restructure Nigeria’s federal structure.
He said: “If you want to know where APC is,
read through the manifesto and that is where
APC stands. The APC did not say restructuring.”
Even the promise of devolution of powers to the
states, Odigie-Oyegun inferred was not a priority
for the ruling party which he said is presently
preoccupied with how to provide food for
Nigerians rather than restructuring.
His words: “What is more important? To fix the
economy or to embark on this political issue
with all the contentious and different
interpretations that the public gives to it? It is
very specific in the manifesto, and we are not
going to renege on it. No question about that.
“It is contentious, and a lot of people talk about
restructuring without any commonality. We have
stated clearly what we want to do. They are
devolution and true federalism. We really
avoided the word restructuring because it means
so many things to so many people. We are
coming to that but our priority for now, for today
is to fix the economy and restore hope, provide
jobs to the teeming millions of our youths all
over the country. So it is a matter of priority.’’
The APC in its first item in its 2015 manifesto
promised to: “Initiate action to amend our
Constitution with a view to devolving powers,
duties, and responsibilities to states and local
governments to entrench true federalism and the
federal spirit.”
The party’s seeming backtrack on the issue was
flayed yesterday from across the country.
Oyegun is in competition with stand-up
comedians—Afenifere
Faulting Oyegun’s position, the pan-Yoruba
socio-political organisation, Afenifere said the
APC chairman’s comments show he is in
competition with stand up comedians.
Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr.
Yinka Odumakin said that the APC would be
remembered as the greatest tragedy to have
befallen Nigeria should it continue to prevent
restructuring.
Odumakin said: “Oyegun appears to be in
competition with our stand up comedians. What
have they done to devolve power in the last two
years? On whose table is he providing food? The
Nassarawa workers who were breaking their fast
with water and citizens who are stealing pots of
soup and eba out of hunger will soon march to
Abuja on a thank you visit to him.
But let him know that their government will be
remembered as the greatest tragedy that befell
Nigeria if they continued their obstinacy against
the restructuring clamour around which a
national consensus is already built.”