By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu has assured that restructuring Nigeria is inevitable but that necessary foundation which will sustain it must be put in place.
The president spoke on Wednesday at the country home of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo state.
Tinubu maintained that he was aware of the numerous challenges confronting the country before he took over and that his administration was committed to tackling them.
He said that when he took the oath of office, that he pledged his allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that he knows what he is facing.
“I prayed for it, I dance for it, I campaigned for it and I got it. I know the enormous of responsibility so don’t pity me Baba just sit down and relax.”
He assured Nigerians that the struggle he understood and that he is trying to build the structures that will not be reversed.
According to him, that structure he is trying to put in place in Nigeria economically, socially and politically would be such that it would bring Nigeria back into where it suppose to be.
He also said that Nigeria is paying the loans, that the loans would be offset as soon as possible and assured that Nigeria would very soon get out of the problem it is facing presently.
On the issues of restructuring, the president stated that he is aware of the need to restructure Nigeria, but that proper foundation must be laid before bringing the restructuring in place “such that if it is done in a rush without proper foundation, the restructuring may collapse very soon but it would be done.”
On the hardship Nigerians are facing, Tinubu appreciated the pains Nigerians are going through and said that very soon Nigeria will overcome it.
“That is a matter of time, that the kind of the policies government is implementing will bring positive solution to the challenges.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Pa Fasoranti stated that “You have kept your promise to return to this place where we prayed for you on behalf of the children of Oduduwa world-wide. I salute you Mr President. By keeping your promise, despite your busy schedule, you have proved to the world that you are a true Omoluabi.
“You are the first member of Afenifere to be elected President of Nigeria. Chief Olu Falae tried in 1999, but he did not get the prize. Today, you are carrying our flag. We are noted for integrity, competence, fairness and courage.
“Your performance so far has shown that you understood the full gravity of your mandate which is to show the Nigerian people that a good government is possible.
“In Yorubaland, we do not seek for any special treatment or unfair advantage. We know you are our own but you now belong to all Nigerians, Your mandate was freely given by the people of Nigeria and blessed by God. Therefore, Mr President, continue to govern fairly and courageously and with the fear of God.
“It is now incumbent on you to address this issue of constitutional reforms with courage, fairness and determination. We know we cannot return to the past, but we have to seek a future where regional competitions would bring out the best in our country as it did during the First Republic.
“We seek therefore a true Federal Republic that would reflect fiscal federalism. If derivation principle is good for oil, why is it not good for Value Added Tax for example? We believe a review of the 2014 National Constitutional Conference would help you in charting the course.
“For the people of the South-West, restructuring also has a more pressing meaning. Today, Nigeria has a population of 200 million which would double in the next 25 years to 400 million.
“However, the South-West is facing an avalanche of migration from the other zones of the country to the extent that in 25 years’ time, if the current trend continues, the South-West would be home to 50 percent of the population of Nigeria.
“By this time the states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo would be home to at least 200 million people. We need to plan for this eventuality on a regional scale. We need to be prepared so that our region would not be overwhelmed by imported challenges.
“Mr President, please also seek for institutional reforms that would strengthen our federation and make Nigeria safer and more prosperous. Try and balance the budget and execute capital projects that would create more employments. We thank you for welcoming the idea of state policing.
“We want each of the geopolitical zone to have greater responsibilities for security, food production and infrastructural development.
“Since the removal of fuel subsidy, which was costing Nigeria 10 billion dollars yearly, the state governments have been receiving hefty allocations from the Federation account.
“Mr President should persuade the governors to allow this change of fortune for the states to reflect at the grassroots so that life can be better for our people. They should not just buy rice and yams for the people.
“They should create employment, improve education and build new infrastructures. Today, life is truly challenging for most people and the state governments have an important role to play to transform the society.”
