Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is not done with his criticism of the Federal Government on its stand on the issue of restructuring the country, this time around, saying the government lacks forthrightness on the matter.
The former VP in a tweet on Wednesday to respond to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s comments on restructuring said both President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo have asymmetrical views on restructuring.
“The President & his VP have asymmetrical views on restructuring. Thus, explains the lack of forthrightness on the matter by this government. This is a failed promise that I intend on redeeming.”
The President & his VP have asymmetrical views on restructuring. Thus, explains the lack of forthrightness on the matter by this government. This is a failed promise that I intend on redeeming. https://t.co/En62aWoDZY
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) September 5, 2018
It was reported that the Vice President disagreed with President Buhari on the need to cede police establishment powers to state governments.
Osinbajo said he had been a longstanding proponent of state police and, in fact, found the current federally-structured police system largely ineffective.
“I have argued in favour of State Police, for the simple reason that policing is a local function,” Mr Osinbajo said in a response to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar Tuesday. “You simply cannot effectively police Nigeria from Abuja.”
Like most other functions of the federation, Nigeria’s Constitution accords exclusive control of the police to the central government. The need to dismantle this controversial arrangement is amongst the key fabrics of restructuring, and often at the heart of the debate, alongside resource control.
But while calls for restructuring have grown in recent years, debates over the essence of the cause have seen citizens draw divergent conclusions, and proponents are often dismissed as demonstrating dishonesty, shallowness or outright confusion.
But Abubakar, perhaps the most visible campaigner for a restructured Nigeria today, insists he has clearly defined what constitutes restructuring, accusing his detractors of deliberately muddling up his position for political gains.