Nigeria

Nigerians criticise Fashola over attack on Obasanjo for using $12bn debt cancellation to pay creditors

Saturday, October 03, 2020 at 4:18 PM by Nkem Ikeke

- Babatunde Fashola is trending on Twitter, but not for very good reasons

- Some Nigerians are having a field day dragging the minister of works and housing over a recent interview

- In the interview, Fashola condemned ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo's decision to use Paris Club’s $12 billion debt cancellation to pay the nation’s creditors

- In his opinion, the former Nigeria leader should have used the money to build roads and rails instead

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Nigerians have descended on Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, after he blamed former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, for Nigeria's weak infrastructural base.

In an interview on Channels TV, Fashola said Obasanjo should have invested in capital projects across Nigeria instead of paying the nation's external debt. According to him, Obasanjo's decision was to the detriment of the country.

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He added that if he had the $12 billion, like the Olusegun Obasanjo government in 2005, he would have built rails and more roads.

Reacting to this, Nigerians on twitter took a swipe at the minister. They wondered why he would question the wisdom of the former president in settling Nigeria's debts.

Concerned citizen with the handle @aelinwa on Twitter wrote:

"Fashola has become the "Nza bird that has challenged his chi to a wrestling match." His foolishness is questioning the wisdom of the former President Obasanjo in settling our debt of $12bn. His wisdom cannot query the unaccounted borrowing and stealing in this administration."

Nigerians hit Fashola over attack on Obasanjo for using $12bn debt cancellation to pay creditors — Fashola said he would have built rails and more roads instead of paying back Nigeria's debt. Photo credit: @tundefashola
Source: Twitter

Kamala Obama said he cannot believe that Fashola will demonize Obasanjo’s debt relief.

"I can’t believe Fashola will try to go back and demonize Obasanjo’s debt relief. There are so many young people in this country who won’t understand how BAD an idea this kind of thinking is. It’s so sad.

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"Zambia is there for us all to see today what happens when a country defaults on its debt. Nigeria is there for us all to see today what happens when a country is under a crushing debt burden. And yet, Fashola must talk nonsense."

Olushola Olufolabi commented:

"Now they are even blaming OBJ-Atiku for making Nigeria debt free, since debt is their only stock in trade. Please can Fashola give a road or rail they working are working on that was not initiated by OBJ-Atiku and continued by GEJ?!"

Ikechukwu's comment on Twitter reads:

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Rotimi Amaechi, the minister of transportation, had earlier revealed that the borrowings done by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government was for infrastructural development in several parts of the country.

Legit.ng reported that he asked Nigerians to be patient with the federal government in its commitment to deliver laudable projects for infrastructural developments.