By DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA – Former President Olusegun Obasanjo weekend criticised his government for the failure to utilise the 2006 census conducted while he was in office.
Obasanjo who described the census as most credible however lamented that, it could have helped the nation to grow if it was well utilised by the authority.
Olusegun Obasanjo
He stated this in his Hilltop home in Abeokuta,Ogun State Capital when the Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission(NPC), Mrs Oluseyi Aderinolu-Olusanya paid him a courtesy visit.
He opined that, Lagos State was playing politics for rejecting the last census, insisting that census is germane to the development of any nation, as it aids national planning.
He said “the last census in the country was the most credible which could have helped the nation to grow but unfortunately it was not well used’ the former president stated
He advised the management of National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure that the forthcoming 2016 is not only credible,but well accepted
Earlier in his speech, Mrs Aderinolu-Olusanya, the Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State assured that the next census shall be successful
She promised to be a good ambassador for the state at the commission, expressing optimism that the 2016 census will pave way for relevance of census in next 20 years.
The commissioner however encouraged more women professionals to come into politics to help change the face of politics in the country.
Olusanya a veteran broadcaster, who retired from Nigeria Television Authority (NTA),said she came on the visit to tap from Obasanjo wisdom,adding that she would always discharge her duties without fear or favour.
