Osinbajo denies describing restructuring agitators as political jobbers

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

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by his spokesman, Laolu Akande,the Acting President categorically said at no time did he  say that those asking for restructuring were political jobbers looking for appointments.

He 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 were 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,” Akande said.

“Besides, 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,” he argued.

He noted that the Acting President himself had 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,” Akande maintained.