Pa Adebanjo and the restructuring narrative

Pa Adebanjo has been one of the leading advocates for restructuring in Nigeria. In most of his interviews, he has called for it, sometimes advocating for a return to regionalism.


While Pa Adebanjo’s yearnings are valid and are the wishes of many, the elder statesman often fails to give credit where credit is due. He often attacks the Buhari administration even threatening that there will be no 2023 if there is no restructuring in Nigeria.


The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is also a subject of Pa Adebanjo’s attacks but as students of history, it is a burden upon us to state categorically that Osinbajo has been a serious advocate of restructuring, not just by mouth but by actions.


People have different views about restructuring Nigeria, so I will try and break it down. Restructuring basically means to organize differently. So in Nigeria's case, it is for certain things to be done differently. 


Many political elites and advocates of restructuring want certain things done differently. State Police for example, is a form of restructuring the police architecture. It means that Governors, Local Government Chairmen, will control the police and its operations in their state.


As Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo has been a voice for stronger states and community policing. Vice President Osinbajo Speaking at the 3rd Anniversary Of The 8th Assembly Of The Lagos State House Of Assembly in June 30, 2018, said “Greater state autonomy is the solution to addressing poverty, unemployment, insecurity, others”.


He continued “Each state must be productive, generating revenues from agriculture, manufacturing, and the knowledge economy”.


January 23, 2020, he met with South West Governors, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police Initiative to resolve the controversies surrounding the Amotekun initiative to resolve the issue of regional/state policing. It was only after this meeting that State House of Assemblies passed the Amotekun law.


He has also often advocated that each state should control their own resources at least to some extent. His view is that Nigeria must create the environment that allows for people to realise themselves economically because that truly is what the challenge with the country is.


The financial autonomy granted to state judiciary and legislature also shows restructuring to the other arms of government. Executive Order 10 gives the Accountant-General of the Federation power to deduct from the allocations due to a state from the Federation Account, any sums appropriated for the legislature or judiciary of that state which the state fails to release to its legislature or judiciary as the case may be and to pay the funds directly to the state’s legislature or judiciary concerned.


Also at the 11th National Development Summit of Traditional Rulers, NDSTR, the Vice President said “The FG is committed to Community Policing”. 


Some of the efforts of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Attorney General of Lagos towards having stronger states include court cases, which he instituted against the Federal Government in which he won most of his cases at the Supreme Court. For example, Urban And Regional Planning (2001-2003) the suit marked: SC.353/2001 between the AG, Lagos (Professor Osinbajo) and AG of the Federation. It was instituted in 2001 by the Lagos State Government to, among others, challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of the Urban and Regional Planning Act, 1992. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo won the case for Lagos state. 


State Control Of Natural Resources (2001-2002). Prof Yemi Osinbajo led the Lagos team in the celebrated case over control of natural resources located within the Continental Shelf of the country. The dispute was between the Federal Government and the eight littoral states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers States in relation to the southern (or seaward) boundary of each of these states.


On Statutory Allocation To States (2004). Prof. Osinbajo also led the Lagos team in the suit marked: S.C. 70/2004 between the AG, Lagos State and AG of the Federation instituted in 2004 by the state government to challenge the directive by then President Obasanjo, to the effect that statutory allocation to states that created local governments, be withheld by the Finance Minister. In its judgement on December 10, 2004, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Lagos State led by Prof. Osinbajo.  


Oladele Peter O (Psychologist)

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