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.”
