In Kano, Atiku clarifies stand on restructuring

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar says the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be very ignorant.

He said this in reaction to the criticism the party directed at him over his position on restructuring.

The party had asked Abubakar why he did not use his office to correct the imbalance in the federation when he served as vice-president.

But speaking with journalists on Monday night, Abubakar said his discourse on restructuring dates back to 1994.

“I think the APC must be very ignorant because my position on the issue of restructuring dates back to the reports of constitutional restructuring of 1994. If you check the report you will find my contributions as far as restructuring is concerned,” he said.

“By restructuring I mean devolving powers to the states or geopolitical zones as the case may be so that they can assume greater responsibilities of their respective states or zones.

“A small federal government which will deal essentially with matters like defence, foreign affairs, currency, central bank and immigration. Very few areas for the federal government.

“So if we give you more powers and resources to develop your respective states then you should hold  your states responsible not the federal government that is what I mean by restructuring.”

Abubakar said all the presidential aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have agreed to work with the candidate who emerges.

“One thing we have all agreed and signed to is that whoever emerges and wins we will support and vote for that person,” he said.

“We did that in APC and it worked and we are called by the party to do exactly the same thing.”