The Pro Chancellor of Baze University Abuja, Dr Datti Baba-Ahmed has declared that Nigeria will never be a better country if its leadership fails to urgently address the explosive birth rate in the country.
Dr Ahmed, who served as a Nigerian Senator between 2003 to 2007 said that it was unfortunate that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were performing the bonafide responsibility of constituted governments in Nigeria.
“I’m going to tell you something that is very deep in my heart, Nigeria will never be good if we don’t address the issue of uncontrolled birth rates. Whoever is in charge of affairs, that is what they should do irrespective of whosoever feels that their sensibilities, their sentiments or their misunderstood religion is been assaulted,” he said.
Senator Ahmed stated this Thursday in Abuja at a family planning event organised by the a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at Baze University saying that what UNFPA is doing is what everyone should be doing.
He said “I feel sorry for you because I know the task ahead. NGOs are doing the bonafide responsibility of constituted governments.”
According to Senator Ahmed, Nigeria’s family planning problem that UNFPA is trying to solve is nearly out of control. “It has caused untold hardships including insecurity, yet constituted authority remain lukewarm and complicit about this. For that, I feel sorry for you considering the challenges ahead.”
“There is the population of four (4) African countries out of school in northern Nigeria predominantly girls and the issue of girl-child early marriage and all the social vices too uncomfortable to mention here should have been handled by our government.”
“Yet, I tend to see more NGOs doing the needful and I beg to say this is unfortunate.
“Right now, our authorities are not prepared to face head-on the issue of uncontrolled birth rate simply because every leader thinks he is a politician, he needs votes and because he needs votes, he must not say anything that will offend the sensibilities of predominantly illiterate northern Nigerians.
“If you are a leader, you are a leader and as they would say, take the bull by the horn. What UNFPA is doing to do takes nothing less than the President himself to make a declaration irrespective of where he is from or his votes are from that you have misunderstood your religion and it’s a different world from the world that you used to know.
“Gone are the days that somebody living on less than $1 a day has three wives, undefined source of income, 21 children, he is going to take a fourth wife and the Chief Imam is at the forefront of solemnizing that wedding and nobody is about to talk.
“The first, second and third wives are malnourished, the children are sick, underfed, out of school and yet, the head of the family is thinking of a fourth wife and the leaders in the society are encouraging him.
“I fail to see that if this thing is allowed to continue and even encouraged to continue, how such programmes will not be a drop of water in the ocean. What UNFPA is doing is good but it is a drop of water in the ocean. I feel frustrated deep down inside.
“As we speak now, the machine is on and they are producing more and more children by the seconds and those who are supposed to speak are refusing to speak.
“Rightly motivated international organizations are doing the much need thing but the real action is yet to start and it is supposed to start from the governments at all levels.
“Our government should face the Imam, the traditional rulers and whoever is not capable of keeping a family should not be allowed to add to the burden of the society.”
