Gani Adams Flays Northern Elders Over Insistence On Region Retaining Presidency

Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has condemned a statement made by the Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, that the north will continue to lead Nigeria.

The Yoruba generalissimo also lambasted Baba-Ahmed for saying North has the votes and would not play second fiddle to any other part of Nigeria.

Adams spoke on Tuesday in Ibeju, Lagos during the maiden edition of Egbe Festival, organized by the Olokun Festival Foundation.

“The statements only exposed the domineering agenda of the north and are capable of setting the nation on fire,” Adams was quoted as saying in a statement.

He also expressed concern over the growing debt profile embarked on by the Federal Government, saying such a huge debts profile is capable of leading the country to its twilight.

Aare Adams lamented that the present administration under president Muhammadu Buhari has, through huge foreign debts, mortgaged Nigeria’s future.

He pointed out that if the existing debt is left unserviced or unpaid, it might turn out to be a big problem for successive administrations.

Adams wondered why the Federal Government keeps borrowing without a clear-cut idea or plan for repayments of those loans.

“Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari sought another 4bn dollars loan. But it is unfortunate that the burden of several loans embarked on by the Federal Government is hitting hard on the ordinary citizens”

“The loan request, according to the Federal Government would be used for Kano-Niger Republic rail project and others. The Federal Government had also argued that the rail line, when completed, would improve trade among Nigeria, Niger, and North Africa,

“But it must be stated that rather than improving the economic prosperity of the nation, the burden of the growing debt profile, and the amount incurred in servicing these loans would only add to the economic woes of the ordinary citizens.

“For instance, the Lagos-Ibadan road is a major road in the south-West region. But sadly, the road has been under construction for the past 12 years.

“This also applies to Lagos-Badagry road, yet the Federal Government is concerned about the Kano-Niger Republic railway, with little or no economic value. This is ridiculous because it all amounts to gross misplacement of priorities, and nothing more.”

THE PUNCH