The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has described the insistence of the federal government to pass the repeatedly rejected Waterways Resources Bill into law as another instance of imposing minority view on majority of Nigerians.
The organisation noted the federal government always imposes minority views while rejecting the views of majority of Nigerians, and frowns at their yearnings.
The organisation stated its position in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, while reacting to the latest statement by the Minister of Water Resources, Mallam Suleiman Adamu, who featured at an interview programme organised by the News Agency of Nigeria last week in Abuja.
Afenifere quoted the minister as saying he would also ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, and managed in a sustainable manner for the benefits of all Nigerians; vowing that his Ministry would continue to pursue the passage of the Bill into law.
Taking a swipe at the minister’s position, Afenifere said “the Minister’s assertion smacks of arrogance, disdain for the people of Nigeria and insensitivity to the things that are of immediate concern to Nigerians.”
The organisation said it is unbecoming of a public officer to describe Nigerians as ‘hysterical’ simply because they express their displeasure to a government policy.
“Secondly, given the fact that the attempts to pass this bill have been consistently rejected since its first mentioning in 2020 during the 8th National Assembly, it ought to dawn on the federal government that Nigerians are not ready to accept the Bill in its present form. Rather than acting as though it can force its plan down the throat of the people, what the government ought to do is to listen to the people and adjust in accordance with the aspirations and feelings of the people.
“But what have we been experiencing in the hands of government officials, especially those serving under President Muhammadu Buhari? Disdain, lack of respect for the people, actions depicting the government as one of conquest rather than an elected one,” Afenifere said.