"If we sell national assets now, we’ll sell our coat of arms to fund 2017 budget" :Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, lawmaker representing Kaduna central senatorial district, has frowned at the proposed sale of certain national assets to fund the 2016 budget.

Arguments for and against the possible sale of Nigeria’s assets emanated shortly after Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, advised the government to put the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) up for sale.Sani expressed his disapproval on Monday through his Facebook page, where he noted that if national assets have to be sold to fund the 2016 budget, worse would be done in subsequent years.He said: “If we have to sell our national assets to fund the 2016 budget, then we have to sell our coat of arms, national flags and anthem to fund the 2017 budget. “As for the 2018 budget, the nation movesfrom recession to receivership, then we auction the whole territorial land mass of our country to the Bourgeoisie class to raise cash, then we all live on tenancy. This is what our ‘lumpen capitalists’ want.”Sani had earlier hinted that those clamouring for the sale were only doing so for selfish motivation. “They don’t want to buy Ajaokuta steel company because it’s not profitable; they don’t want to invest in solid minerals, agriculture or science and technology”, Sani had said days ago, also on his Facebook page. “They don’t want to invest in the exploration of oil in Chad basin or Benue trough. They want to buy NLNG and NNPC.”