Why is Gowon opposing restructuring?

Sir: What has General Yakubu Gowon to gain from opposing restructuring that will collapse states into regions, as in the past, and drastically minimize costs of governance? He was overthrown on July 29, 1975 when his government became hijacked by sycophants and bootlickers. Since he came back from exile, he has never opposed anybody in power. Instead of telling truth to authority Gowon started a prayer outfit “Nigeria Prays”, creating confusion and distraction all over Nigeria. Even if Gowon doesn’t believe in restructuring, does he believe that herdsmen should be ravaging crop farms, raping and killing crop farming communities, or, what has he said to President Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) on that score? He is too much like Christians who are saying that unless you accept Jesus, you cannot belong to God Almighty. Gowon, like the Jewish David Mark (Nigeria’s former Senate leader) is like Christians and Muslims who are insisting that swearing with holy books works better than the name of God Almighty. Gowon is always defending government positions, mostly wrongly. He doesn’t want to miss his retirement benefits paid to him by whoever is at the Nigerian helm of affairs.

So far, what Nigerians can see of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is that although many federal workers get their pay, monthly, hyper inflation is a huge problem. Outside of salary payments and hyper inflation, there are carnage, genocide, and economic destruction of Nigeria. Why PMB stayed in London for too long until people protested on two occasions is not clear.

Why he signed some Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) contracts in his sick bed in London after handing over to his deputy to be Acting President is not clear. Why the Police Inspector General gave two Prado jeeps to PMB’s wife for her personal use is not clear. Was Buhari aware? I wish I knew. Yet, some people are calling on PMB to help states pay owed workers with the Paris Club refunds. But, where is the moral pedestal for him to be judge over the governors? If he cares about welfare of Nigeria, he would have resigned given his age and state of health. Far from that, PMB is scheming to perpetuate himself in power beyond May 28, 2019.

Nigerians should beware of the governors, ministers and others who parade themselves as Buhari Support Group (BSG) members. Is Gowon also a member? Check out the list and put all of them in the demon book, as those wining and dining with Beelzebub. How can any decent person be fronting for someone perpetuating carnage, genocide, and economic destruction of Nigeria? Only by luck “Soldiers intercepted Boko Haram squad,” with “deadly items recovered.” At the same time, “Army confirms ambush on soldiers in Zamfara.” If the Army is endangered, who is safe? What security is PMB boasting about? He must resign or be sacked for reemploying AbduRasheed Maina.

Prof. Oyeniran Abioje, University of Ilorin.