The chairman of the Yoruba apex group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has carpeted the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu; former Ogun State governor, Segun Osoba, and former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, over the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the country.
He said the APC stalwarts were Buhari’s political associates who canvassed for him before his election; therefore, they should be held responsible for his (Buhari) misbehaviours at governance.
He questioned their reasons on why the country is yet to be restructured, adding that restructuring remains the only way to return Nigeria to its days of glory.
“If my son emerges as a presidential candidate of any political party, I will not support him if Nigeria is not restructured”, Adebanjo vowed on Tuesday.
The Afenifere leader spoke at the ‘The Platform,’ a virtual meeting organised by Yoruba Global Council (YGC), a coalition of progressives.
While commending the YGC, the elder statesman said that the 1999 Constitution was fraudulent and was imposed on the people by the military.
Speaking on Tinubu’s presidential ambition, Adebanjo advised him to first negotiate restructuring before pushing to become APC’s flagbearer in 2023.
“Even people like Tinubu, Osoba, Akande came into office in their times advocating true federalism. Do you remember how they came into office under restructuring agitation? They now say restructuring is not their priority.
”I implore you (YGC) to invite Tinubu, Osoba, Akande, and others to this platform. Ask them why they derailed; advise them to persuade Muhammadu Buhari to restructure Nigeria before 2023 elections.”
Adebanjo also said while the 1960 Constitution embraced fiscal federalism and encouraged regional autonomy, the 1999 Constitution remains a scam.
“How can you say a product of the fraud would amend the fraud? They cannot govern us under the rule of thumb and those of us who fought for democracy will keep quiet? No, it can’t work.
“In 2021, Buhari is telling me Nigeria’s constitution is not negotiable? What a balderdash! What an insult! That is not the agreement we made with the founding fathers”, Adebanjo said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson of YGC, Prof Lere Amusan, explained the group had also been rooting for restructuring as part of its mission.
”Right now, people are in need of material gains, basic necessities of life, education, health, good roads, and hospitals.
“When these things are fixed due to more wealth redistribution, we will have lesser fights about security, corruption, tribalism, and nepotism”, he said.