By Adeyemi Olusoga
The Senator representing Ogun Central and former governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun has lashed at media report which quoted him over the weekend saying the granting of visas to young Nigerian professionals is wicked.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Yoruba, Amosun was quoted to have condemned visa issuance to Nigerians as wicked for encouraging the brain drain of core professionals in the country.
However, the Senator in a statement said he was deliberately misquoted by the reporter saying the choice of word, “wicked” was the reporters’ and not his.
Amosun: “Some media reports, including the online portals, had claimed Amosun, in his BBC interview, condemned western nations for encouraging the emigration of Nigerians in large numbers, by granting visas to young citizens, a development he was misquoted as saying was ‘wicked.’
“The Ogun Central Senator, therefore, contended that his major concern was core professionals like medical doctors, lawyers, engineers and accountants, who were leaving the country in droves with their families because such could open the country to greater challenges.
“Although the former governor described the countries encouraging such exodus without considering the fate of Nigeria as unfair, the choice of the word ‘wicked’ was purely the reporter’s and not his.
“Thus, while commenting on the ‘japa phenomenon,’ Amosun reiterated what he said, ‘I have heard about it and the reports are scary. All youths and young talents are travelling out of Nigeria, seeking greener pastures and the prospective countries are deliberately giving them visas to leave the country without putting the origin country into consideration.’
“Amosun further contended that, what made the reports inaccurate and a deliberate damage, was the fact that he too had been sponsoring young people, who desired to further their studies abroad and has not ceased to write to different embassies in support of their applications, because he believed in their decisions to study abroad to further equip them.”
