By Festus Ahon

ASABA—A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has berated Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State for kicking against the call for the restructuring of Nigeria, insisting that restructuring would guarantee true federalism in the country.

Onuesoke in a statement in Yenagoa, Beyalsa State, said rather than support the calls for restructuring, Tambuwal was calling for more allocation in favour of states and local governments, which according to him, was not in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

He said: “Governor Tambuwal’s position on restructuring of revenue allocation to states and local government areas in Nigeria is myopic, narrow-minded and selfish.
“It is only when the states depends on their internally generated revenue and pay some percentage as tax to the Federal Government as it is in developed nations that the country will experience absolute peace.
“Therefore, I strongly believe that restructuring that will bring about true federalism and eliminate all fears being expressed and insecurity threatening the existence of Nigeria. All the contentious issues need to be addressed under restructuring.”

Noting that Governor Tambuwal supported calls for restructuring when he was Speaker of the House of Representatives, he expressed disappointment that he (Tambuwal) could turn around over night to kick against it.

Onuesoke said, “The current structure of Nigeria is wicked, sinful, slanted, unfair, unjust and not conducive to justice, harmony, development and happiness of the constituent units of the country.

“There may be no peaceful resolution of the many crises rocking the country, if people like Governor Tambuwal have that kind of mindset. Nigeria as a country is on zero level with the government as confused as the governed.

“I go on his knees every day praying to God to avert looming implosion, yet somebody like Governor Tambuwal is feigning ignorant to the level that he does not see that the terminal crisis in Nigeria today, flows from our structural dysfunctionality.

“It is therefore, perfidious and sad for anyone to tell us at this stage that the constituent units of Nigeria should be in their chains inside a suffocating cage with a little more meat added to the slave ration they currently enjoy.”