The Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the devolution of powers which will arise from the ongoing constitutional amendment exercise.
Okechukwu, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the President has denounced the negative narrative that he was averse to restructuring or true federalism in the country.
The VON boss told journalists in Abuja on his assessment of the President’s Democracy Day speech last Saturday, that, “Among the agro-infrastructural revolution in the speech, I singled out Mr. President’s pledge to play critical role in the constitutional amendment exercise and his acknowledgment and recognition of notions of marginalisation among various segments of our population.
“Am impressed with Mr President, who is an unsung hero of Agro-Infrastructural Revolution and am also happy that he has nailed doubting Thomases with his uncommon pledge to play a critical role in the devolution of powers via the constitutional amendment exercise as he did eloquently in the 8th National Assembly.
“Mr. President has denounced the negative narrative that he is averse to restructuring or true federalism. He capped it up by saying that Nigerians will be happy with the outcome.”
Okechukwu, who recalled that Section 121(3) of the Constitution, as amendment granted financial autonomy to state legislatures and judiciary is the child of Mr. President, emphasized that there exists near national consensus for dual-restructuring.
He expressed optimism that the President’s pledge will definitely calm down nerves, especially when some pundits have spewed the negative narrative that he is averse to restructuring.
“Methinks it is good omen that he has openly changed the negative narrative, by saying that his government is not averse to devolution of powers via constitutional reform.”
“Government is, however, willing to play a critical role in the constitutional amendment process without usurping the powers of the National Assembly in this regard.
“As a nation we have come very far from where we started and we are getting incrementally closer to where we ought to be.”
