How Buhari Wants To Leave A Legacy For His Father's People - Reno Omokri

According to Reno, the construction of a railway to Niger has no economic value to Nigeria.

The activist who recalled the just concluded Anambra governorship election said the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost because the administration preferred Niger to Anambra who has more GDP.

"The economy of Anambra is 2 times larger than the economy of Niger. Research it. Niger has a GDP of less than $15 billion. Yet, Amaechi and Buhari are building a $billion railway for them when Anambra hasn't even smelt a railway. And you wonder why APC lost Anambra? It makes no economic sense for Nigeria to be building that railway. It is only being prioritised because Buhari wants to leave a legacy for his father's people. Same way he voted for a Nigerienne against a Nigerian, during an election to elect a new leader for the defunct Organisation for African Unity in 1985ÔÇØ Reno wrote.

Recall that the Nigerian government had in January 2021, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mota- Engil Group, a multinational engineering and construction company, for the construction of the $1.959 billion Kano to Maradi (Niger Republic) rail line project.

The Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, had signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria while Antonio Gvoea, managing director of Mota- Engil Group, signed on behalf of the firm in Abuja.

The rail line which is proposed to run through Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states and terminate in Niger Republic territory, had a lot of controversy as some Nigerians questioned the project.

President Buhari while explaining his decision said;

"The project, when completed, would serve import and export of goods for Niger Republic and other countries in the sub-region through Nigerian ports. The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of Niger Republic will benefit from ease of transportation logistics at affordable cost in their import and export business,ÔÇØ the president said.

The president who also spoke on Arise TV in June, mentioned that he has first cousins in Niger.

"If you recall, when I came, I went to Chad, I went to Niger, I went to Cameroon. Look at what happened with Boko Haram. If we were not in a good relationship with Niger, Chad and Cameroon, Boko Haram would have done worse things to us and you say I am going to Niger.

"I told you the border between us and Niger is 1, 500km. I spoke to one French man and I had to tell him this. He spoke nonsense and I told him look, in 1885, you sat down and drew lines (boundaries). I said I have first cousins in Niger. There are Kanuris, there are Hausas, there are Fulanis in Niger Republic just as there are Yorubas in Benin. You can't absolutely cut them off.ÔÇØ

"We want them to come through Nigeria. We want them to send their exports through Nigeria.ÔÇØ