Politics
RESTRUCTURING: Nigeria’s real problem not structural, one of values- Oshiomhole
Former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has said that Nigeria’s real problem was not structural but rather one of values, arguing that advocates of the restructuring agenda had an ulterior motive of diverting focus from the anti-corruption war.
He argued that the oft-cited recommendations of the 2014 National Conference regarding the issue of restructuring were deeply flawed, and if implemented as a whole, would only complicate the structure of the country.
Oshiomhole made these comments in an interview with Channels TV aired on Sunday.
Read also: Only restructuring can save Nigeria from extinction- Ezeife
He stated, “That conference which some people say once you implement it Nigeria’s problem will be solved, do you know what it recommends? Among its key recommendations was that eighteen additional states be created. Now some of the people who are signatory to that document are part of those who are arguing now that thirty six states are not viable and yet they want more states to be created.
“Yet others in the name of restructuring say we should return to regions – The geo political zones which are mere artificial creations just for the purpose of sharing, that they should have another layer of government at that level which effectively means creating four levels of government.
“I know that the real problem of Nigeria is not structural issues; there can be no perfect structure. Some speak to true federalism; whose truth? True by reference to which country?
“Every country has its own unique system fashioned to deal with its own peculiarities. The character of today’s Nigeria elite you can compare it with the days of the Awolowos, of the Sardaunas of Sokoto, of the Nnamdi Azikiwes. Those were real patriots, totally committed.
“They were not in power for purposes of self-help. The condition we are in today, for me I think what we need to interrogate today is how do we need to re-orientate ourselves? Poverty of values, absence of ethics, anything goes”.
Oshiomhole’s comments appear to follow the pattern of recent controversial comments emanating from high-ranking members of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), which question the very rationale of restructuring, and dismiss its agitation as self-serving, despite it being a cardinal component of the party’s manifesto.
Recall that Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, who heads the party’s much-pilloried panel on detailing and publicizing its unique version of restructuring, had also dismissed those clamouring for restructuring as political opportunists.
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Oise Oikelomen
August 7, 2017 at 5:44 am
All these men in APC talking as if they know more than everybody. First, it was El Rufai insulting those calling for restructuring. Now it’s Oshiomhole coming here to tell us what we have heard too many times – poverty of values, absence of ethics, bla bla bla. Abeg just fulfil your campaign promise and restructure declining country already.
el-sig
August 8, 2017 at 7:28 am
OK. So how do we restructure? A fourth tier of government? Back to colonial regions? 18 more states? Resource control? I believe we need to restructure but the arguments are endless, and without values we’ll be going round in circles.
Oise Oikelomen
August 8, 2017 at 7:44 am
Oh, we can start by sitting down to discuss and agree on how to restructure. That’s what reasonable, enlightened people do. The arguments seem to be endless now because we have not had deliberate, constructive dialogue on the matter. What we’ve had so far is a stream of discontented rantings from justifiably aggrieved and agitated NIgerians. Let’s sit down and talk and settle this quarrel once and for all.