What happened to restructuring? IPOB alleges APC backing state police to deceive Nigerians again

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Sunday charged Nigerians not to be deceived by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over its purported support for creation of state police, alleging that such move is a mere attempt to garner support ahead of the 2019 elections.

Recall that the ruling party had last year set-up a restructuring committee to examine dusts generated by proponents of the idea and to chart a new way forward.

Consequently, the committee in its final report had, among other recommendations, proposed the adoption of state police in Nigeria.

But speaking in a statement through its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB wondered why APC which had since opposed the idea of state police suddenly become its avid fan  when 2019 elections is closing in.

The group alleged that the party has no genuine plan of adopting state police, pointing out that like restructuring, the idea would become a forgotten issue after election.

“Even the most unintelligent person knows that this state police proposal is a key component, if not the central plank, of the report on restructuring by the APC committee appointed by the presidency,” the group was quoted as saying in a statement by The Cable.

“It is a calculated fraud designed to buy time and confuse the gullible. It is merely an election gimmick calculated to deflect attention and convey the impression that this is a listening government which is a lie.

“This APC regime promised restructuring before they were elected into power, today they are ardent opponents of restructuring. With this state police gimmick, once you elect them back in 2019 they will become critics of state police. Only the gullible and unintelligent will be taken in by this charade.”

Buttressing its point, the group argued that had the current administration been sincere about its intentions, “it would have implemented the proposal (of restructuring) immediately rather than merely issuing it as a report to be debated upon”.

The group however, maintained that it would not renege on its quest for the actualisation of Biafra.

It added: “Our primary interest remains the full restoration of the full sovereignty of the nation of Biafra and nothing more.

“Anything short of a referendum to ascertain the wishes of the people is dead on arrival for us.

“We are democrats by genetic disposition, which means that our belief that power resides with the people is sacrosanct.