I Don’t Owe Northerners Any Apology, I Stand By My Statement – Fayose
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has clarified that his recent remarks on Nigeria’s population challenges were not aimed at any specific person or region and that he stands by his comments without apology.
Naija News reports that Fayose, an ally of President Bola Tinubu, recently suggested that polygamy and large family sizes are significant factors in Nigeria’s population crisis.
These remarks were made during an interview on Channels TV, where Fayose indicated that Tinubu’s difficulties in managing economic hardship stem from “indiscriminate” childbearing and marriage, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
In response, social activist and former Kaduna State lawmaker, Shehu Sani, condemned Fayose’s statements about marriage customs in the North.
Similarly, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, also criticized Fayose, urging against blame games during this critical period.
Addressing the backlash, Fayose took to his X handle to clarify his stance, stating, “No Apologies, My Comment Not Targeted At Anyone or Any Region.”
He elaborated, “I have no reasons to say derogatory things about anyone, not even the North, not the South.
“What I said was very clear.
“I said I visited a State in the North, I didn’t mention the State. And I gave an illustration that I got talking to a Gateman who said to me that he had four wives and 16 children. And I said what can the government do about such a person? What can government do about a Gateman with four wives and 16 children?
“That illustration is not about the North, it could be anyone in the Southwest, Southeast or South-South.”
Fayose emphasized, “Some people are saying I should apologize, and I want to state that I have no apology because I have not offended anyone. My point is, the nation needs to address the issue of its population, either North, South or anywhere.”
He further remarked, “It is regrettable that people like to pervert the truth and quote others out of context. Majority of those who have reacted to that interview did not even watch it, they didn’t also bother to see the video.
“Therefore, I can’t be bothered about the anger of anyone. I have no reasons to be derogatory about anyone, any region or group.”
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