NPC: Vested Political Interests Forced Odimegwu To Resign – Afenifere

Chief Festus Odimegwu
Chief Festus Odimegwu

Afenifere, the apex pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization has attributed the resignation of Eze Festus Odimegwu as Chairman of the National Population Commission, NPC, to the handiwork of vested political interests, who were uncomfortable with his position on the last population census exercise in the country.

Odimegwu, who had been under pressure to throw in the towel since early August when he suggested that past censuses were manipulated to give undue political advantage to a section of the country, sent his resignation letter to President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday.

But reacting to the development yesterday, Afenifere spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin expressed disappointment that the political interests had their way by seeing to it that Odimegwu does not conduct the 2016 census because he spoke the truth about past censuses starting from 1816.

Odumakin said, “It is unfortunate that some vested political interests in this country have forced Odimegwu to resign. Though Odimegwu has resigned, the issues that he raised will not resign. He has opened our eyes to the politics of manipulation of census, which has ensured that we have not had a credible census all these years. Whoever is succeeding Odimegwu should take note of the issues he has raised.”

The Afenifere spokesman also noted that the restructuring of Nigeria, which may take place after the proposed national conference, will reduce the political significance of census in the country.

-PUNCH

2 COMMENTS

  1. There is a time for everything; a time for ignorance and a time for awareness; a time for servitude and a time for freedom; a time for placid comprise and a time for constructive engagement.God’s time has come.The conference is the promised land that will end our DESERT WALK – it is more than any election. Jonathan is making history! Odumakin, fret not for WE THE PEOPLE have the final say. God is Great!

  2. Its quite unfortunate that the man is thrown out for stating the obvious. Evil triumph in societies that lack courageous men. I hope the president and his numerous advisers do something about the issues that Eze Festus Odimegwu raised. Those are the basics of transformaction.