Ex-governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has said that he would not apologise for his comments about Nigerians contributing to the burden of the government by giving birth to children they cannot cater for, because it was not targeted at anyone or region.
In an interview with Channels TV on Monday, July 29, Fayose was asked to speak on the economic hardship being experienced all over the country. In his response, Fayose claimed men having many wives and children iis a problem to Nigeria’s growth.
He said he visited a Northern state sometime back and a security guard told him he had worked there for over 20 years and was earning a meager salary. Fayose said he asked the man about his family and was shocked when the man told him he has four wives and sixteen children.
‘’I went to one state in the North. I was there for three days. In the course of my stay, I got familiar with people in that part of the government house that I stayed. The gateman told me he has been in government work for 26 years. When I asked what is your salary, he said the money is small and that it is N34, 000. I said how many children do you have and he said he has sixteen and four wives.
My brother! The problem is inside us for God’s sake. If someone is earning N34,000, what can government do with 17 children? We don’t want to be realistic. Another person said he has eight children and three wives and one of the wives is still expecting.
A lot has to be done by our people too”
Northerners including Senator Shehu Sani found his comment offensive and called on him to apologise for using a Northerner as an example.
Responding to the calls, Fayose said he will not apologise as his comments were not derogatory to any region. He said he only used the Northern gateman as an illustration to drive home his point.
He wrote;
”No Apologies, My Comment Not Targeted At Anyone or Any Region
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.
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.
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.”
