By Jude Opara, Abuja
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Osita Okechukwu has taken a swipe at state governors over the non implementation of the 4th and 5th amendments to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Okechukwu, who spoke following the renewed calls for restructuring which saw Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka also putting restructuring on the front burner, while delivering a lecture at an event organized by the Punch Newspaper at the weekend.
Soyinka said, “When the word restructuring is booted around, we often have the challenge, what do you mean by restructuring? Well, I don’t even like the word restructuring, I prefer the expressions like reconfiguration, decentralization. And those who lead us, they recognize the necessity of it, they recognize the importance and almost the inevitability of decentralization until they get in power.”
Similarly, former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku added his voice; “I am on record for saying that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.
“We cannot effectively address these challenges that have assumed a nationwide dimension, especially insecurity which has pervaded the Northern part of the country and other communities,” he said.
However, addressing journalists on Sunday, Okechukwu, said while he was not against restructuring, if restructuring is patriotic search for prosperous society and the good of greatest number of Nigerians, he does not agree that lack of it is reason for the bad governance in some states.
“If restructuring is for prosperous society and the good of the greatest number of Nigerians; do governors need restructuring before implementing the 4th and 5th amendments of the country’s constitution?” Okechukwu retorted.
The former Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) added that many governors have been foot-dragging towards the full implementation of financial autonomy for the state Houses of Assembly and the Judiciary, which is the 4th Amendment.
“The lukewarm attitude of majority of the governors to adherence to the rule of law, welfare and security of our citizenry; dampens our zeal to advocate for concession of more powers to Governors cum Emperors.”
He stressed that, “Whereas one is not against restructuring or reconfiguration, especially the imperative of devolution of powers to the sub-national units, once more do our dear governors need restructuring before they implement the 4th and 5th amendments of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?”
“Simply put, is financial independence of the State Judiciary and the State Legislatures, not deepening of our democracy and fundamental restructuring?” Okechukwu asked.
