A coalition of elder statesmen and leaders of thought have cautioned international lending organisations against lending to Nigeria.
They said it was imperative that the organisations, including United Nations, African Union, European Union, United States, French, Chinese and British Governments do not give fresh loans to the federal government because “Nigeria is now a country with questionable sovereignty.”
The elder statesmen, numbering 129, who were signatories to the Constitutional Force Majure (CFM) declared on December 16, 2020 on the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, under the auspices of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self Determination (NINAS), said in a statement that borrowing a “disputed project” loan can only be considered an act of negligence.
They include former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd); former Governor of Plateau State, Air Commodore Jonah Jang, renowned historian, and Second Republic Member of the Senate, Prof. Banji Akintoye; former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; respected varsity don, Professor Yusuf Turaki and 124 others.
In the statement signed by the Chairman of the Steering Committee of NINAS, Folashade Olukoya, they expressed concerns that available information showed that the Nigerian government had 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 December 16, 2020, when we declared a Constitutional Force Majeure.
“Subsequent activities as articulated at press conferences of March 17, 2021, and April 17, 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 read.
