Encomium
‘It’s a way of squandering our money’, they echo
Nigerians from different quarters have continued to criticise the allocation of $ 1 b from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) for the prosecution of a war against terror as approved, a couple of days back, by Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF). They described the idea as an indirect way of looting the national treasury. They, therefore, opined that such a huge amount be voted for capital projects or invested in the Agricultural sector that will be of benefit to all and sundry.
Those encomium.ng sought their opinions on the decision also spoke in the same vein.
‘The amount is too outrageous’ – DUPE BADA
A whole of $1 b! That’s too much to fight Boko Haram. Buhari shouldn’t have allowed that. I am not saying we don’t have to fight the insurgents, but that allocation is just too outrageous. It should have been invested in Agriculture so that hunger can reduce. Nigerians are suffering. We need food on our tables. And before we know it, we will be hearing another story just like it happened during Jonathan’s administration.”
‘That’s not the next thing to do’ – RASIDAT FALOLA
“I don’t support that at all. It’s a way of squandering our money. They’re not going to use the money to fight any Book Haram. I think they have been fighting this Book Haram since Jonathan’s administration. Why must they need up to that amount again? That’s not true.”
‘It’s like they want to repeat DasukiGate’ – EMMANUEL NNANA
“It baffles me to hear that such an outrageous amount has been allocated for war against insurgents they claimed they have technically defeated. Do we still need to budget that kind of amount for that? If they have said the money is going to be used to rebuild the northeast, fine. I won’t oppose that. But to say is to be used to procure weapons to fight Boko Haram insurgency, that’s too much. $1 b is not a small money. It’s more than the budget for the Ministry of Power, Work and Housing. That’s a technical way of setting aside fund for 2019 presidential election. It’s like they want a repeat of DasukiGate.”
‘It’s for 2019 presidential election’ – OBI UZOR
I stand with Governor Fayose who said the money is set aside for 2019 presidential election. If not, why do we need that kind of amount to fight Boko Haram? After all, Lai Muhammed has said they have been technically defeated. That’s why I hate APC fro day one. The party is full of lies. They’re just ruling us with propaganda. Such a huge sum should have been voted for any of these capital projects, the better or we spend the money on Agriculture. A lot of Nigerians are hungry, and you’re allocating that kind of money to war against insurgents. Who are they deceiving?”
‘Will the money be truly spent for that purpose? – NOSO CHUKWU EMEKA
“There’s nothing wrong in allocating $1 b to fight insurgency. Security of lives and property of Nigerians supersedes every other thing. Sweden is one of the safest countries in the world, yet its government budgets more than that to fight insecurity every year. So, to me, the amount is not too much if it will be spent for the purpose for which it’s allocated. But the timing may have shown that technically, that’s the only way Buhari can save money for 2019 election. But let’s wait and see.”
‘It’s senseless’ – DAPO OLAWALE
“The amount is too much. What are we even celebrating in the government of hunger and poverty? What’s now the difference between Jonathan’s administration and the present one? Even, Nigerians were better off under Jonathan’s administration. I was never this broke. Things were never this tough during Jonathan’s era. If the government is sensible, and is feeling the pains of the poor, it shouldn’t have approved such a huge amount for the kangaroo war against Boko Haram. There’s hunger all over the place, and it’s written on people’s faces. So, why are we deceiving ourselves?”
TADE ASIFAT
