A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Chief Ayo Akande has cautioned those calling for the restructuring of the country not to overheat the polity unnecessarily as it could lead to anarchy.
He gave this warning during the annual prayer programme of the Lagos State Wholesale Yams Sellers’ Association held at Ogba, Lagos State, during the week.
Akande noted that most people calling for the restructuring of the country have the intention to split the country.
“The kite of restructuring being flown about by these agents of restructuring has bad intentions for the country. The negative effect of what they have in mind is more than what the ordinary minds can decipher,”he said.
The party chieftain pointed out that “if what they mean by restructuring is to split the country, I do not agree with them because that is not the solution. The solution is the continuous review of the constitution by the National Assembly in consonance with the pulse of the nation.”
He said the present agitation in the country was hinged on inequalities. “What is unjust is what we should address and not to fan the embers of disunity. We will not gain from the balkanization of the country. There is a big advantage in one indivisible and united country.”
Akande believes in the state structure, adding that devolution of more powers to the states would reduce ethnic agitations and bring about rapid development in each state. “Let us decentralize the centre and give more powers to the states. Let there be state police, while the federal police serve as checks and balances.
“We should allow the states to control their resources. If the grouse of the Niger Delta and the Igbo is their oil, let us give it to them to manage while the federal government controls the tax from its revenue,” he said.
Akande further said: “If the states are independent, their policies would be dynamic and more resourceful. If you believe that you like the policy of Kaduna State more than that of Lagos State, you have the freedom to change to Kaduna as a Nigerian.”
He advised the political class to look for ways to assuage the sufferings of the society rather than compounding it.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the association, Mr. Samuel Rayewa, said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should come to the aid of the members of the association who were daily being exploited at the detriment of the consumers by the Ogun State revenue collectors, operating from Abeokuta to Ilo on the federal highways.