Worry About Terrorism, Kidnapping, Nothing Wrong Relocating FAAN, CBN To Lagos – Fayose’s Aide Olayinka Hits Ndume, Northern Elders

Lere Olayinka, ex-aide to former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has told Senator Ali Ndume and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to be concerned about insecurity in the North rather than opposing the relocation of some offices of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had announced that owing to congestion in Abuja and administrative convenience, some offices of the CBN and FAAN would be moved to Lagos.

But several groups in the north including the NEF have kicked against the move.

On Tuesday, Borno State lawmaker, Senator Ndume threatened the president with serious “consequences” should he see through the plan.

He said the whole North was against the move and there would be repercussions should the president fail to rescind the move.

The presidency in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, on Wednesday further clarified why the government was taking the decision denying it was preparatory to returning the country’s capital to Lagos as being rumoured.

Olayinka, who’s the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 in the 2023 elections, supported the position of the Tinubu administration arguing that “it is on record that under the government of Buhari, a sum of N17.47 billion was approved for the acquisition of a property in Victoria Island, Lagos, to serve as the new headquarters of NIMASA.

“No one from Apapa, Lagos raised any eyebrow that NIMASA was being moved to Victoria Island in Lagos then,” he said.

He further argued that “After 110 years of joining Southern Nigeria with Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the single colony of Nigeria, we should have gone past mundane issues like relocation of departments of federal government agencies to any part of the country.

“For instance, if we have a department in the Ministry of Agriculture that is saddled with the task of irrigation, what is wrong in such a department operating from Dutse in Jigawa State or Maiduguri in Borno State?

“If we have a department on small-scale industry in the Ministry of Commerce, why can’t such a department operate from Onitsha, Nnewi or Aba?

“However, I am sure those making issues out of that non-issue know the truth. As usual, they are playing politics.

“The same politics that was played by some people, who opposed the appointment of the Southern Christian as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), first time since the federal capital was moved out of Lagos to Abuja,” he stated.

He stressed that “If they are not playing politics, they will be more concerned about terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in the North. They will be more concerned about the current killings in Plateau State.

“Most importantly, they will be more concerned with the welfare of Nigerians, many of whom can no longer afford decent living.

“But since it is politics, everyone must act as they speak for their regions or religions, not minding if their positions will call to question the unity of Nigeria.

“In truth and honesty, however, they speak for themselves and their narrow political interests,” he said.