Fayemi, Falana Fault $100m Centenary City plan

Gov. Fayemi

Federal Government’s plan to build a $100 million Centenary City in commemoration of Nigeria’s 100 years anniversary was at the weekend described by Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Chief Femi Falana (SAN) as another effort to squander resources.

Fayemi, who was a guest lecturer at the second Verdant Zeal ‘Innovention’ lecture series in Lagos, said the project, though beautiful in design, would amount to nothing for the country.
Stating that the project was a mis-placed priority at this critical moment in the life of the nation, Fayemi said it would have been most appropriate to use the year 2014 centenary celebration as sober reflection and a time to collectively determine what it means to be a Nigerian.

“It should have been a period to reflect on the brand, ‘Nigeria’, and the Nigerian Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) as a grand design to begin the rebuilding process of the country that we all would love to see,” he said.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, some days ago disclosed that plans were at advanced stages for the Centenary City project, coupled with its planned listing on the Nigerian and London Stock Exchange.

Falana

On his part, however, constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, Falana, described the project as another ploy to “find food for the boys and not about Nigerians,” adding that “if you are planning to celebrate 100 years of colonialism or when Nigeria was amalgamated, it should not be by pouring money down the drain.

March 25, 2013