Statements like ‘Nigeria should not happen to me’ should not have any place in our public broadcast – Fashola tells Nigerians

Babatunde Fashola, the former Minister of Works and Housing, criticized individuals in Nigeria who commonly use the expression, “May Nigeria not happen to me.”

During an interview on Channels TV on Monday, October 1, Fashola expressed his disagreement with the usage of such phrases in public discourse. He emphasized the importance of addressing concerns about the country with a more constructive and less negatively critical approach.

According to him, Hope is the most important currency that sustains human civilization, harmony, and expectations

The former minister of works said he advised the present administration not to fear criticism as it is a necessary step in improving and furthering the benefit of the country.

“The image and the pride of the nation is the public relations work of all of the people. If I came to your home today and every home has its bad place and not good for publicity, you wouldn’t show me that part. You will show me your nice and tidy sitting room and that is the impression I will walk away with. That does not mean there are no issues in those homes. That does not mean all the bills have been paid. That is how we must treat our nation. It is not enough to begin to valorize things that Nigerians do outside the country, and that is important ambassadorial work that those people do and I take nothing away from it.  But we must begin to emphasize a little more of these small things and use it to build hope. 

”My advice to you, your producers should in the same way advice people to retract statements that they make on your platform. Does kind of statement that ‘Nigeria should not happen to me’ should not have any place in our public broadcast” he said

“Hope is the most important currency that sustains human civilization, that sustains harmony, and the expectation that I can make it,” he stated.

“This is the time that all of us must put our hands on the plough. For those who want to denigrate the country, you must first ask them, ‘Do they have another country?’ I don’t have another one,” he said.

“It is not just the work of government and it is the right to criticise the government. Criticism has helped serious governments; criticism helped me when I was in government and I believe that this government will listen to criticisms and use them as fire to build a better and warm place for all of us to be. In the name of criticism, there must be no negative word about this country, even if it has negatives. I remember a conference I attended, and the theme around which we discussed was that ‘can we all agree never to put forward Nigeria’s negative?’ and I have held to that commitment I made solemnly as much as I can.” he said