Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday cautioned against the conduct of population census in 2018, saying the outcome of the exercise may become vulnerable to manipulation.He called on those clamouring for conduct of the census in 2018 to exercise patience till after the 2019 general elections when there would be no political pressure to manipulate its outcome.Noting that conducting a population census in an election year may generate unrealistic results, Dogara advised that the next administration should conduct the census at the beginning of its tenure when there isnt so much at stake.A statement signed by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Turaki Hassan, quoted the Speaker as saying he was just offering a selfless advice.He said, I wont advise anyone to conduct national census in 2018. I said it before that if we are not going to achieve it in 2017, then we should just forget it until after 2019. If you conduct census at the niche of elections, there will be so much pressure, crisis and the lure for people to manipulate the figures for political reasons, such that the agency cannot even cope with.So, it is better for a fresh administration to conduct this exercise from the beginning of that administration when we do not have any pressure of elections in sight. Then we may have something that resembles reality, but I can bet you if the census is conducted in 2018, the outcome will be doubtable.Seriously speaking, because I know who we are and I know the kind of litigations, backlashes, the pressure and we dont need that now to be candid. We have so many challenges. Lets empower the agencies to keep building on the blocks that they will leverage on in the future in order to do the exercise but doing it in 2018, honestly it is nothing I would advocate.2018 Census Still FeasibleNPCIn a swift reaction to Speaker Dogaras stance, the National Population Commission (NPC) said yesterday that it was still hoping to conduct the proposed population census in 2018, while it awaits a presidential proclamation.The commissions former acting director of public affairs, Dr Isa Yahaya, who stated this told LEADERSHIP that the Speaker was simply expressing his personal opinion on the proposed census.Dogaras comment is his personal opinion and not an official position. We are still waiting for the president to make a proclamation, he noted.Yahaya, however, said that the commission appreciates Dogaras concern, while encouraging more Nigerians to come up with their views.He maintained that the commissions ultimate objective was to have a credible census.Speakers Statement UndemocraticAfenifere On its part, the Pan Yoruba socio- cultural organization, Afenifere Renewal Group, yesterday urged Speaker Dogara to stop relying on assumptions and embrace tested realities.In its reaction to the statement issued by the Speaker on the conduct of population census, Afenifere said they have noticed Digaras proclivity to bully his way in a dictatorial manner, despite heading a significant democratic institutions.Dogara knows quite well that democracy is about consultation and dialogue but, like a military despot, prefers to shun these democratic tenets before seeking to impose his agenda on the nation, publicity secretary of the group, Kunle Famoriyo, noted in a statement.Afenifere observed that of recent, Dogara had been speaking on critical and sensitive national issues and expressing views which, according to available records, have not been debated in the House.As the Speaker, his views should only reflect what has been thoroughly debated. Such undemocratic attitude is the reason Nigeria continues to fail at evolving a true and genuine nationhood. If census should not hold as proposed in 2018, it should be a national consensus and not the working assumption of a few leaders who pretend to know what is best for the country, the group argued.PDP Kicks, Says Census Must Not Be politicisedAlso, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday warned that moves to postpone the census from the due date will amount to altering the laws without formal constitutional amendment.The acting national publicity secretary of the party, Hon. Bernard Mikko, cautioned that the proposed census should not be politicised.Speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday evening, he said, The issue of census should not be politicised. Under our statutes, it should be conducted in every ten years.Any attempt to postpone the census from the due date will amount to altering the laws without a formal constitutional amendment. We should abide by our laws for positive development.ACF, Balarabe Musa, reactOur correspondents reports that the statement by speaker Dogara generated flurry of reactions with the apex northern socio-cultural organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), cautioning him against making statements that could over heat the polity.ACF spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, in a message he sent to our correspondent in Kaduna said Nigeria as Nation should not be afraid of political challenges, rather it should device a means to overcome them. Our politicians should restraint themselves from making statements that would unnecessary over heat the polity. The NPC must put in place all necessary logistics to ensure free and fair nation censusAlso, former Governor of old Kaduna State and an elder statesman, Balarabe Musa, condemned the call for postponement of the nations head count as championed by Speaker Dogara noting We must abide by the constitution of Nigeria. If the constitution says so nothing the Speaker Dogara and the legislature can do.
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