CITIZENS COMPASS —A Chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain and former Delta State Gubernatorial aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke has told protesters against the proposed relocation of some departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) , and the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), from Abuja to Lagos, telling them that Abuja thr seat of powet belongs to all Nigerians.
Recall that the Arewa Consultative Forum, (ACF), some northern groups, especially, Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations (JACNYA) and Northern Senators have criticized the move, describing it as a deliberate ploy to further under-develop the northern region of the country.
Reacting to the protest by the Northerners on the relocation while fielding questions from journalists in Lagos, yesterday, Onuesoke stated that it is wrong for Northerners to claim Abuja as their own, stressing that the citybelongs to all Nigerians and not Arewas alone.
“If the government is moving any offices from Abuja to other parts of Nigeria, it will contribute to logistics and administrative convenience of such ministry or department. Nothing is wrong with it. Why are some Northerners taking the relocation of these offices personal as if the Central Bank belongs to the North?
“The Government has the right to move it to another place as it was moved from Lagos to Abuja. The Capital was formerly in Lokoja, from there to Calabar, from Calabar to Lagos and from Lagos to Abuja. Did the Southerners protest?, he asked.
While justifying the relocation of a section of CBN and FAAN from Abuja to Lagos, the PDP Chieftain argued that 85% of financial transactions take place in Lagos and 85% of travelers in and out of Nigeria takes place in Muritala Mohammed Airport in Lagos.
“The Federal Government’s decision of relocating FAAN from Abuja to Lagos will reduce the cost of FAAN staff chattering private jets from Abuja to Lagos to sign or approve documents.
“In America, the Central Bank is leveled all over the place. Even the American Central Bank is sited in New York and not in Washington DC.
“The complaints about NIMASA having its operations in Lagos is not justified in the sense that Lagos is best suitable for NIMASA due to proximity to waters. “Since Abuja lacks proximity to water, will NIMASA be given approval for ships from Abuja to Lagos?
“Nobody cares where the office is located. We only want results. Everything cannot function in Abuja. If I am the president, the Ministry of Defence should move down to the north and move police ministry to the East. The Ministry of Niger Delta has no business in Abuja, move it to Niger Delta. Commerce and industry can be in Lagos or Anambra.
“Abeg relocate the headquarters of NNPC, oil multinational companies to Niger Delta, NDDC to Niger Delta and NPA to Niger Delta,” he appealed to the Federal Government.
