“In line with APGA’s commitment to restructuring, my administration will vigorously pursue the entrenchment of true federalism which promotes productivity and competitiveness among the federating units. Thus, instead of the present misguided emphasis on cake sharing which accounts for high level of corruption, the APGA-led Federal Government, under my leadership, will promote the emergence of viable, competitive and sustainable economic entities that will unleash the creative potentials of Nigerians. The end result of such competitive entities will be wealth creation, job opportunities, social harmony and national security.

“The devolution of power envisaged under our restructuring template will empower the federating units to exploit the natural resources within their respective domains to develop their economies for the wellbeing of their people. The fiscal restructuring also demands that we engage in an honest conversation on resource control with a view to determining what the federating units must now contribute to the centre.

“Let me say, at this point, that those who sow the fear into Nigerians that restructuring will lead to disintegration are being dishonest. The truth is that fiscal federalism and national unity are not mutually exclusive. What a restructured Nigeria will achieve is that, we shall move away from the cake sharing formula which breeds laziness and rent-seekers to cake baking which unleashes the creative energies of Nigerians especially our youth.

“We no longer have the benefit of a choice; with the oil economy predicted to collapse within the next ten years, architecting the post-oil economy is no longer a matter of choice; it is mandatory. Here are the disturbing facts:

“Eight years from now, the price and demand for crude oil which accounts for over 85% of our foreign exchange will collapse because by then all land transport will be powered by electrification. Worse still, according to the World Bank, by 2050 Nigerian population will be over 400, 000, 000. This will make Nigeria the fourth most populous country in the world. If we do not restructure now to allow the emergence of economic entities that are viable, sustainable and competitive for a post-oil economy, how can we cope with a population of 400, 000, 000 people in just a couple of years from now? We must devolve powers from the centre to allow the federating units to manage themselves. These also include the judiciary, electric power supply and local security.

“A key and immediate component of restructuring will be my government’s commitment to immediately reducing the cost of governance. The huge cost of governance both at the federal and state levels must be reduced. We can no longer afford to run recurrent and capital budgets where the bulk of the financing is borrowed. At the moment Nigeria’s external debt stands at $23 billion while internal debts stand at N22 trillion. What this means is that everybody should be prepared to make some sacrifice. The good news is that savings from this will be ploughed into social investment programs aimed at alleviating poverty in the land.

“My APGA-led Government will immediately push forward all aspects of fiscal restructuring that will be implemented immediately and then consult with Nigerians on those aspects that require Constitutional Amendment.”

Gbor speaking while accepting his nomination as APGA candidate on October 11th, 2018.

“I am going to restructure Nigeria but my kind of restructuring is different from what most Nigerians have been talking about. My restructuring is focused on fiscal restructuring. Nigeria will be restructured in such a way that we will focus on emerging economic entities that are viable, that are sustainable and are competitive. The federating units will be allowed to exploit their own resources. If you have oil, gold, whatever you have, you will exploit it for your own people. And the nation will decide what percentage the federating units will give to the federal government. No longer shall we hold the people to ransom; the resources belong to the people, and the people will exploit their own resources and the federating units will exploit the resources in their environment, take care of their people and give an agreed percentage to the federal government.

“I would set up a committee to look at that. A committee of notable Nigerians. But my emphasis will be on fiscal restructuring, not the type that is based on sharing the cake rather than baking the cake. We would look at what Pres. Goodluck Jonathan did, and we would re-examine it. My emphasis is fiscal and not necessarily political restructuring. If within my powers, I would allow the states to start exploiting their own resources. I know that there are certain aspects of it that the president cannot act on without the national assembly, but whatever is within my powers, I would devolve the powers to the states, and the states would start exploiting their resources.”

Gbor in an interview with Seun Okinbaloye of Channels Television, published on October 28th, 2018.

John Gbor

Office

Election