SNM Convener, Solomon Semaka who addressed a press conference in Abuja stated that as the country struggled through an election season, the political leaders who lost were desperately trying to sow seeds of discord by frustrating the census exercise.
A civic group, the Save Nigeria Movement, has described calls for the postponement of the forthcoming national population and housing census by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and some other stakeholders as antithetical to Nigeria's development.
SNM Convener, Solomon Semaka who addressed a press conference in Abuja stated that as the country struggled through an election season, the political leaders who lost were desperately trying to sow seeds of discord by frustrating the census exercise.
He added that those mischievously calling for further postponement of the forthcoming 2023 National Population and Housing Census had a negative agenda.
"Of particular concern to us and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians is the attempt by Governor Samuel Ortom to constantly attack every Federal Government’s policy as a way of gaining cheap popularity in the face of his inability to perform his constitutional duties to the people of Benue who voted him into power eight years ago.
"Benue State with four universities and more than five other institution of higher learning stands to benefit more from this Census exercise more than any state. The pool of graduates churned out of these institutions and the need to establish industries to cater for the employment needs of the state through the abundant agro-allied and natural raw materials are just some few benefits of a Census to Benue indigenes and Nigerians at large.
"The fact that job creation, industrial and social development and education are the direct benefits of a Census exercise is lost on Ortom who uses every opportunity to attack, ridicule and castigate the Federal Government is quite unfortunate.
"Earlier in January this year, some governors commended the Federal Government and the National Population Commission for their efforts to organise the first digital Census which will provide credible and valuable data for development planning in Nigeria.
"As critical stakeholders in the Benue and Nigerian project, we appeal on Governor Ortom to separate politics from issues of national interest. Hiding under the banner of insecurity to call for the postponement of a project that's about to kick off is callous, if insecurity did not stop elections, then it can't stop the 2023 Census.”