Buhari govt already restructuring the country – Lai

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, said on Tuesday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was already restructuring the country based on its understanding of the concept.

The minister, who made this claim in an interview with Channels Television, also reiterated the Federal Government’s red line on hate speech, saying that any breaches would be met with appropriate sanctions.

He said, “For the Federal Government restructuring means devolution of power. Restructuring means for the Federal Government a system whereby government’s policies and programmes can reach everybody at the grassroots. For us, restructuring means ability that will allow you to deliver and in our own way, we have started.

“The Acting President (then) issued an order to the police that they should start implementing community policing; that is one aspect of restructuring that we believe will deliver better criminal justice. We as a government we look at our constitution as it is today and we follow strictly what the constitution says, and in applying the constitution we look at practical ways of reaching out to people.

“The constitution is the grundnorm today, that is the basis of our being together and you cannot today as a government do anything that is contrary to that Constitution because that is the supreme law of the country.

“So, even when you talk about restructuring you may need to amend certain provisions of the constitution, and we all know how cumbersome it is to do that. But we are not averse to genuine grievances, we are ready to look at them, but what the government cannot do is to react to the cacophony of voices”.

Read also: Buhari’s directive on hate speech lawful- Enang

Mohammed also disclosed that the president was aware of the reported face-off between the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami and the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

He said, “Yes, he is (aware). He is the employer of the two of them. The president would look into the matter and of course, pronounce on the issue. The EFCC chairman why would he take the position that he is taking, the AGF why would he take the line he is taking?”

The minister however dismissed insinuations of a civil war within the administration as claimed by some over the crisis between AGF Malami and Magu.

He said, “People may have different ideas, but this is not unusual, and I can assure you, the matter will soon be brought under control.

“I think you are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. There is nothing unusual for two agencies of the same government to have different means on how to achieve the goal. But it is a matter that will be resolved and will be resolved.”

 

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