Notable statesmen and leaders of thought have warned the international community against giving loans to Nigeria which they described as “a country with questionable sovereignty.”

The leaders, numbering 129, were signatories to the Constitutional Force Majure declared on December 16, 2020, on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

Notable among them are former Military Vice-President of Nigeria, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd); former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang; Renowned Historian and Second Republic Member of the Senate, Banji Akintoye; former President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, and respected varsity Don, Prof. Yusuf Turaki.

The leaders, in a four paragraphs statement, warned the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States, French, Chinese and British governments that borrowing a “disputed project” loan can only be considered an act of negligence.

The statement was made available to newsmen on Sunday by the Chairman of the Steering Committee of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, Otunba Folashade Olukoya, on behalf of the NINAS Secretariat.

It reads, “News reaching the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS) says that the Nigerian government has taken on further loans.

“Again, we remind the International Community that Nigeria is now a disputed project. This was articulated in our Press Conference of 16 December 2020, when we declared a Constitutional Force Majeure.

“Subsequent activities as articulated at Press Conferences of 17 March 2021, and 17 April 2021 emphasise that Nigeria remains a disputed project. Knowing this and lending to a disputed project can only be considered negligence.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Indigenous Nations will not, and cannot be expected to repay such loans or allow their assets to be used as collateral to offset the loans,” the statement said.

(The PUNCH)

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