The representative of Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Chief Francis Fadahunsi, on Sunday alleged that some governors were making brisk business from gold mining and smuggling to Dubai. Consequently, he urged the Federal Government to prioritise the development of the mining sector, stating that Nigeria could generate enough money from solid minerals to grow its economy and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Reflecting on the security situation in the country, he deplored the alleged abandonments at war fronts by troops, urging that the menace be checked by the relevant authorities.Addressing reporters at his country home in Ilase, Obokun Local Council of Osun State, Fadahunsi maintained that “Nigeria is richly blessed with gold and other solid minerals which, if properly managed, would enable the country to fund the budget easily.”

“The gold we have in the country is more than that of South Africa. What is happening is that some governors are mining the gold and smuggling it to Dubai to bring the refined product back home,” he claimed.The senator declined to name the governors who were allegedly involved in the economic sabotage but implored the central authorities to give serious attention to the development of the mining sector for the benefit of the citizens. He stated that about 10,000 soldiers had “left the war fronts with nobody looking for them.”

The ex-customs chief described the closure of the nation’s land borders as needless, insisting that the whole northern part of the country was borderless.The lawmaker also condemned the invasion of homes and shops by customs official for seizure of cars, wondering why they allowed the vehicles to gain entrance in the first place. He expressed worry over high debt portfolio of Osun, rationalising that the burden was weighing heavily on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to deliver good governance.

Fadahunsi pointed out that the state “must account for the about N182 billion debt and the $20 million grant for health.” He claimed: “Even with the deduction from source, Oyetola can not repay the debt before the end of his tenure.” Maintaining that the hate speech bill pending at the federal legislature is undemocratic, the legislator asserted that journalists were the last hope of the common man and not the judiciary. He therefore urged media practitioners not to relent in exposing corrupt leaders and bad policies, noting that it was the duty of journalists to speak for the voiceless.

The senator added: “Nigeria is not clinically dead but bodily dead. How will you close borders when we have many Nigerians living in neighbouring countries, including Cameroun, Benin Republic and Ghana?” (The Guardian)

Update news