A presidential aspirant on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who is a former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has warned that only a holistic restructuring of the country could solve the numerous challenges bedevilling it, promising to implement the recommendations contained in the constitutional conference report on restructuring of the country if elected president.
Tanimu stated this in Lagos, while addressing leaders and members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which included a chieftain of the party Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, the PDP state chairman, Hon. Moshood Salvador, several other PDP leaders and members at the party’s secretariat, saying that he believes strongly in gains associated with restructuring the country.
The presidential aspirant disclosed that he was totally in support of agitations for restructuring of the country in any form, either true Federalism, fiscal federalism, devolution of power or creating additional state for the South-East geo-political zone, adding that his position as a lawyer is that any law that stands against moving the country forward on the path of sanity should be amended.
“On restructuring, I want to pointedly say that I believe in restructuring in whatever perspectives, whether it is true Federalism, whether it is resource control or fiscal federalism, devolution of power or creating additional state for the South-East geo-political zone. I would implement the recommendations of the last constitutional conference report if elected president. The state of the country has made restructuring inevitable for us now,” Turaki said.
The former minister, who berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Muhammadu Buhari administration for failing in their promises, stressed that the country had a divisive and discriminatory government in power, which he said had encouraged doubt about the Nigeria project. He pledged to rebuild the passion of nationalism and patriotism in the citizens.
“We have a divisive and discriminatory government in power that we now doubt the Nigeria project,” he said.
Tanimu also promised to concede the position of managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to Lagos State which he noted generates 95 percent of the nation’s non-oil revenues, adding that he was well-equipped to become president of Nigeria in terms of experience, intellectual deepness.
He, however, said all the PDP aspirants, including him had all resolved to back any candidate who would finally emerge from the party’s national convention that would hold any time in Abuja, declaring that for Nigeria to remain united, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) must be voted out of power.
“If you are looking for credibility, we have credibility. We have integrity. We have the knowledge and experience. Nigerians are looking upon the direction of the PDP to save the nation from nepotism and despotism,” he said.
The presidential aspirant was accompanied by party leaders, including former governor of Adamawa State, Boni Haruna; former Minister of National Planning, Sulaiman Abubakar; former Niger Delta Minister, Steven Oru, among other party leaders.
