I Never Called Restructuring Agitators ‘Political Jobbers’, Osinbajo Reacts

Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has denied claims that he said those agitating for restructuring were only looking for appointment.

Recall that there were reports that Osinbajo had said that those seeking restructuring are ‘political jobbers’.

Osinbajo who allegedly said this while speaking at a seminar of the Institute of Security Studies had said, “It is a false narrative that nations formed the way ours was formed is bound to fail. Term mere geographic expression is not original to Nigeria.

“It is also a false narrative one group is more corrupt than the other. Not so. If you look at a corruption charge sheet, there is unity you find all ethnic and religious groups equally represented in corruption. There’s complete unity in the business of corruption.

“It is also a false narrative that we are better off when ethnic groups are on their own. While different groups have strength we are better united.

“It is also not true that those who make marginalisation charges are altruistic. Often what they are saying is I am marginalised-‘appoint me’,” Osinbajo had said.

But in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande on Tuesday, Osinbajo said the claim was inaccurate.

“At no time did the Acting President say that those asking for restructuring were political jobbers looking for appointments,” the statement read in part.

“The video, audio tapes and full text of his speech at the National Security Summit organised last week by the Department of State Services, DSS are publicly available.”

It added that although several newspapers and media outlets reported Professor Osinbajo’s said speech at the summit, not one of them “made such a blatantly inaccurate claim that he said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers”.

Stressing that the debate on restructuring is an important one and the calls for restructuring cover a wide range of legitimate and constitutionally valid issues, Osinbajo said all Nigerians have both a right and a duty to advance their arguments on the subject.

“The Acting President himself has expressed support for State police based on the community policing model, advocated for devolution of powers to the States and fiscal federalism,” the statement added.

“Besides, the Buhari administration has been active in supporting state rights in several ways including in fiscal matters and will continue to do so.”

The acting president’s alleged claim had gained sharp reactions from politicians across the country to include elder statesman Ayo Adebanjo, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani Kayode amongst others.