Kwankwaso tells supporters he now favours restructuring and will implement it if elected

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has joined the clamour for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation stating that the country will enjoyed accelerated development if she is restructured.

In February next year, Nigeria goes to the polls to elect a new president and restructuring may become a key issue as the clamour for it has grown recently. Over the last three years, there have been deafening calls for the restructuring of Nigeria to enable her component parts develop their economies and end the dependence on crude oil.

After the National Conference of 2014 recommended restructuring in its report, numerous socio-cultural groups have asked the government to initiate a programme and under pressure, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he is not opposed to the principle of it. Already, one of Senator Kwankwaso's opponents for the PDP nomination, former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has come out to say he is in favour of restructuring.

Senator Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and currently the lawmaker representing Kano Central Senatorial District, said restructuring would strengthen the various federating units of the country and enable them to reach their potential to promote the country’s prosperity. Speaking in Lagos, Senator Kwankwaso said he was a strong advocate of restructuring and would speed up the development of the country, if elected president.

“There have been agitations for restructuring in the southwest and other parts of the country, so let me assure you that I am for anything that would promote the country’s progress. I am for anything that would deliver democratic dividends, so I support restructuring and I am going to implement it, if elected,” Senator Kwankwaso added.

He pointed out that President Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) had failed in the delivery of its electoral promises to Nigerians. According to Senator Kwankwaso, the ruling party had not been able to address security and economic challenges, among other problems facing the country.

Senator Kwankwaso said apart from having the capacity to deliver, he was the only aspirant with the wide support needed to defeat the APC. Among the candidates seeking the PDP presidential nomination include Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aminu Tambuwal, Bukola Saraki, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Sule Lamido, Tanimu Turaki, Attahiru Bafarawa, Jonah Jang, Ahmed Datti and David Mark.