Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice President Monday
Ubani yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari must have
misunderstood Nigerians’ demand for restructuring.
The lawyer said an aspect of the restructuring Nigerians seek is
the devolution of power from the Federal Government to the
states.
According to him, the President appeared to understand
restructuring to strictly mean a return to the Parliamentary system
of government.
The President said: “We tried the Parliamentary system: we
jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a return to the
Parliamentary structure. In older democracies these systems took
centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit
neatly our purposes. We must give a long period of trial and
improvement before the system we have adopted is anywhere near fit
for purpose.”
Ubani said: “Maybe he misunderstood what restructuring really
means. The restructuring we’re talking about is removing most of
the things being handled by the Federal Government. Let them be
decentralised.
“States should share some of these duties in order to ensure
good governance, proper structure and a well-run federation.”
Ubani said the President’s New Year speech was otherwise
inspiring, and urged him to match words with action.
“Every other thing he said is very inspiring and I’m very happy
that the government is making some level of progress, such as in
agriculture and stabilising the naira.
“A lot of things he said really inspires hope, especially in the
development of basic infrastructure. He mentioned the railways,
electricity, and other key infrastructure suffering some level of
deficiency.
“Those are important in restarting the economy, especially
power. So I urge him to match his words with action.”
Lagos lawyer and University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr Wahab Shittu,
described the speech as balanced.
He said: “President Buhari’s address is the last opportunity to
deliver change to Nigerians by affirmative actions.
“The speech is both an acknowledgment of concerns being raised
by the citizenry as well as commitments to deliver on railways,
roads, power projects, employment, security, enterprise, fair
elections and the political challenges of the country.
“Addressing huge infrastructural deficits is the central theme
with marginal issues being political stability and other issues
including cost of governance and appreciation to Nigerians for
concerns raised during the period of his health challenges.
“The speech set specific targets and objectives in the context
of economic recovery and growth plan strategy of the
administration.
“Overall the speech reflected the concerns of Nigerians as well
as firm commitments to address them mainly through the power, works
and housing ministry, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA),
etc, utilising diversification into agriculture, solid minerals,
manufacturing, enterprise and job creation tools as driving force
for the realisation of set objectives.
“lt is a balanced address which also recognised the challenges
of energy crisis, power outage, security threats, derelict
infrastructure and citizen disenchantment arising mainly from
poverty and lingering fuel crisis which marred the Christmas and
New Year holidays.
“Nigeria will hold the president on his word to fish out those
responsible for the blackmail resulting in the artificial fuel
scarcity inspite of efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) in making products available.”
Former member Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Mr Abayomi
Omoyinmi, said the speech was hope-inspiring.
“My general impression of the President’s broadcast is that the
speech has given hope to the people of the country in that there is
continuity in the process of development of infrastructure by his
government that will turn around the economy.
“The infrastructure that has for a long time been neglected my
previous administration. The fact that he recognises the problems
staring the people of Nigeria in the face and consistently gives
assurances of better things to come rather than pretending that
those problems do not exist portends hope rather than
hopelessness.
“The broadcast is a reaffirmation of the Buhari government’s
commitment to rebuilding the country for a better tomorrow,”
Omoyinmi said.
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Second Vice President Monday
Ubani yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari must have
misunderstood Nigerians’ demand for restructuring.
The lawyer said an aspect of the restructuring Nigerians seek is
the devolution of power from the Federal Government to the
states.
According to him, the President appeared to understand
restructuring to strictly mean a return to the Parliamentary system
of government.
The President said: “We tried the Parliamentary system: we
jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a return to the
Parliamentary structure. In older democracies these systems took
centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit
neatly our purposes. We must give a long period of trial and
improvement before the system we have adopted is anywhere near fit
for purpose.”
Ubani said: “Maybe he misunderstood what restructuring really
means. The restructuring we’re talking about is removing most of
the things being handled by the Federal Government. Let them be
decentralised.
“States should share some of these duties in order to ensure
good governance, proper structure and a well-run federation.”
Ubani said the President’s New Year speech was otherwise
inspiring, and urged him to match words with action.
“Every other thing he said is very inspiring and I’m very happy
that the government is making some level of progress, such as in
agriculture and stabilising the naira.
“A lot of things he said really inspires hope, especially in the
development of basic infrastructure. He mentioned the railways,
electricity, and other key infrastructure suffering some level of
deficiency.
“Those are important in restarting the economy, especially
power. So I urge him to match his words with action.”
Lagos lawyer and University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr Wahab Shittu,
described the speech as balanced.
He said: “President Buhari’s address is the last opportunity to
deliver change to Nigerians by affirmative actions.
“The speech is both an acknowledgment of concerns being raised
by the citizenry as well as commitments to deliver on railways,
roads, power projects, employment, security, enterprise, fair
elections and the political challenges of the country.
“Addressing huge infrastructural deficits is the central theme
with marginal issues being political stability and other issues
including cost of governance and appreciation to Nigerians for
concerns raised during the period of his health challenges.
“The speech set specific targets and objectives in the context
of economic recovery and growth plan strategy of the
administration.
“Overall the speech reflected the concerns of Nigerians as well
as firm commitments to address them mainly through the power, works
and housing ministry, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA),
etc, utilising diversification into agriculture, solid minerals,
manufacturing, enterprise and job creation tools as driving force
for the realisation of set objectives.
“lt is a balanced address which also recognised the challenges
of energy crisis, power outage, security threats, derelict
infrastructure and citizen disenchantment arising mainly from
poverty and lingering fuel crisis which marred the Christmas and
New Year holidays.
“Nigeria will hold the president on his word to fish out those
responsible for the blackmail resulting in the artificial fuel
scarcity inspite of efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) in making products available.”
Former member Ogun State Judicial Service Commission, Mr Abayomi
Omoyinmi, said the speech was hope-inspiring.
“My general impression of the President’s broadcast is that the
speech has given hope to the people of the country in that there is
continuity in the process of development of infrastructure by his
government that will turn around the economy.
“The infrastructure that has for a long time been neglected my
previous administration. The fact that he recognises the problems
staring the people of Nigeria in the face and consistently gives
assurances of better things to come rather than pretending that
those problems do not exist portends hope rather than
hopelessness.
“The broadcast is a reaffirmation of the Buhari government’s
commitment to rebuilding the country for a better tomorrow,”
Omoyinmi said.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/buhari-misunderstood-restructuring-says-monday-ubani/