Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, says the people canvassing political restructuring of Nigeria are political opportunists.

“Those that are talking about restructuring see it largely as a political opportunism in my opinion rather than practical realities” said el-Rufai on Thursday when he featured on Channels Television’s morning show, Sunrise Daily.

He particularly carpeted former presidents advocating for restructuring of the country now, saying they were in power but never believed in restructuring adding that restructuring was part of the manifesto of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Goodluck Jonathan and Ibrahim Babangida, who are former presidents, are among prominent Nigerians who recently joined the call for restructuring.

“This administration under President Buhari has done more in practical terms not rhetoric about federalism, than previous administrations put together. And I give examples:  as a state government, we are now much more involved in economic policy-making at the federal level than ever,” he said.

“We meet every month under the auspices of national economic council and working together with federal government; we chart directions economic policy.

“That is part of shifting the federal-state balance. We have been involved in the investigation of the finances of excess crude account and things that were always hidden are now much more open.

“That is one practical step; others include mining. The Minister of Solid Minerals, Fayemi, has done more in involving states in trying to exploit mineral potentials. Before this administration, licenses were issued for mining in Abuja and you just see people drop in your state for mining. That has changed dramatically.”