THE Publisher of Ovation magazine and chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Dele Momodu, on Tuesday, July 30, criticised a former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, over his claimed that the practice of poor men marrying many wives and children, an experience he witnessed in the North, is a problem to Nigeria’s growth.
Fayose, during a recent television interview, said President Bola Tinubu’s seeming inability to adequately address Nigeria’s economic hardship was due to northerners marrying multiple wives and having many children indiscriminately, thereby constituting a huge problem on Nigeria and the government.
Asked what government could do to alleviate the sufferings of millions of Nigerians ahead of the planned nationwide protest, Fayose recounted: “Let me say this. I went to one state in the North. I don’t want to mention the name of the state. I was there for three days. During my stay, I became familiar with people around the Government House where I stayed.
“I sat outside and started speaking with one or two people. I asked the gate man how long he had been in government work. He said he had spent 26 years. I asked how much his salary was. He said it was small, N34,000. I asked how many children he had. He said 16. I asked how many wives he had. He said four.
“My brother, the problem is inside… For God’s sake, if somebody is earning N34,000, what can the government do with 17 children? We don’t want to be unrealistic.
“Another person said he has eight children and three wives, with one of his wives still expecting.
“A lot has to be done with our people too, because when you have children and you go into government, a government that is struggling to survive, it is difficult when you are asking me what I would say to them. What do I say to a man who has 17 children and four wives?”
The former governor argued that one year was too short for Tinubu’s government to fix a hunger crisis that predated his administration, recalling that former President Muhammadu Buhari served eight years without protests over hunger in the country.
“This hunger started a long time ago. That was why there was a rally at one point demanding ‘Jonathan must go.’ Jonathan left, but that hunger did not stop. Buhari came. I spoke to power. Buhari spent eight years and nobody said anything. I don’t remember any rallies.
“Nigeria is a very difficult country to govern. We all know that. If a man is to spend four years, give him a mid-term.”
He stressed the need to reset the country, saying Nigeria can no longer afford the blame game.
But his comment has attracted reactions from Nigerians, with Momodu writing on his X handle: “My dear brother, AYO FAYOSE, I have just two questions, sir: Who is more destructive to the nation, the poor man with plenty wives and children or the politician with one wife and many high maintenance girlfriends, who waste public resources on extravagant lifestyles, including private jets?
“Who is more productive, the politician who steals the sweats and resources of the citizens or the poor man who sends his many poor wives and children to the farmlands to grow crops for everyone of us!!!
“Your excellency, my dear brother, please, let’s all accept that we’ve failed this country and we need urgent reset. We cannot afford the blame games at this perilous time…
“May God forgive our transgressions… Warmest regards always…”
