Mutual distrust between the North and the South has been described as the problem facing Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general election.
Senator Ramoni Olalekan Mustapha, representing Ogun East senatorial zone made this known while speaking with newsmen in Abuja.
The lawmaker noted that the problem is issue of mutual distrust, saying anybody that come will want to bring people from their own area.
“This is an issue that is sensitive that no one would want to talk about, but the problem facing Nigeria now is the issue of mutual distrust, in the sense that anybody that comes will want to bring people from their own area to handle the whole thing.
“That is why everybody is agitating that it should be their own turn or area that will produce the next this or that. That is why you have now a level of agitation”.
Commenting on Nigeria’s 61st independence anniversary and the agitation for power by the federating units ahead of 2023, Mustapha said “those who are saying power should go to the north, but they are not telling us where the power should go to in the north”.
He added “in politics one day is a very long time, tomorrow people that are saying these things can still say another one when their interest is taken into consideration”.
Speaking on the deplorable state of Nigeria roads, the lawmaker observed that the only solution was to consider the option of Public Private Partnership (PPP).
“The best way is Public Private Partnership” he said.
According to the lawmaker, the state of Nigeria roads has been a constant issue of discussion on the floor of Nigerian Senate over the years.
“We have seen changes, before now against the usual way of traditional rainfall, but this year since August it has been raining constantly and in the process so many bad roads have become worse.
“The government of day need to give attention to some of this issues, it is our responsibility in the Senate to make laws and propose project for the executive”.
On whether states government should take over some federal roads, he said “well you said the federal government is complaining or not able to construct roads as a result of paucity of funds and you are saying that the state should take up some federal roads, has state government on their own been able to construct their own roads”, he asked?
“As we speak many states are not even able to construct just 10% of their own road, so if you add the federal road to their own, then you are increasing their burden” Senator Mustapha added.
