I did not describe those asking for restructuring as political jobbers – Osinbajo

Nigeria’s Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has expressed surprise at the news report quoting Chief Ayo Adebanjo as saying he described those agitating for restructuring as political jobbers.

Speaking through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said at no time he ever said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers looking for appointments.

Akande said, according to the statement, said, “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.

“While several newspapers and media outlets reported Prof. Osinbajo’s said speech last Wednesday, not one of the publications made such a blatantly inaccurate claim that he said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers,” he said.

Besides, he went continued, “the debate on restructuring is an important one and the calls for restructuring cover a wide range of legitimate and constitutionally valid issues. Indeed all Nigerians have both a right and a duty to advance their arguments on the subject.”

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