Okonjo-Iweala needs to have a rethink towards supporting the FG to revive our economy- Doyin Okupe says
In a
post titled "National Economic Emergency" which he shared on his
Facebook wall yesterday, former media aide to former President Jonathan, Doyin
Okupe, prevailed on former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to have a
rethink and lend her support to the APC-led government towards reviving the
economy which is currently in recession.
According to him, issues concerning Nigeria should not be politicized. He also gave support towards the Economic Emergency power President Buhari is asking the National Assembly to give him so he can move speedily towards reviving the economy. Read his post below...
It is a fact that Nigeria as a country is in
dire straits in terms of its economy. It is not too important how we got here
or who or what brought us here. We need an exit plan desperately. Sadly, there
is too much politicking in Nigeria. Our Partisanship is obscenely unhealthy for
our nation. A few of our people are still behaving as if elections are yet to
take place. But the truth is elections have come and obviously they have also
gone. Unfortunately our economy, has slipped into a recession and that is
crippling everybody and everything. No matter what government and those opposed
to government are saying, there is no easy way out of a recession. When
President Obama came in, in his first term, the US was in recession. He was
young, brilliant, and smoking hot, it took nearly 2yrs to see the tips of the
mountain, and almost the same length of time before the flood of recession
started to recede. At that time the opposition threw diatribes and invectives
similar to what is being thrown at President Buhari now, at him. But he
remained focussed and steadfast. Eventually he succeeded. ‘While wailing,
howling or even cursing from the populace will certainly not help our
situation, pretence, conceit or sheer optimism from government quarters also is
no panacea for the economic infirmity bedevilling our Nation. ‘This situation
calls for an end to extreme partisanship in the face of a major threatening
national emergency. ‘We need to, and we must put all hands on deck. May be
President Buhari’s famous quote”….We have no other country that we can call our
own” is more apt now than “the change begins with me ” mantra, which may not be
as bad as it is being presented, except that the cliche was coming almost
18months late. It would have been better received if it was part of the
inaugural speech of the president. Dr,mrs, Okonjo Iweala must have a rethink.
This is not about Buhari or Apc, it is about the survival of over 20% of black
population in the world. It is about the continued existence of the most
populous nation in Africa. It is about Nigeria, the only nation where black
history and heritage can be redefined. We must bring in all our aces, Kalu
Ndika Kalu, Soludo, Rewani, Tunde Lemo, Utomi, shanmsudeen, our revered Emir of
Kano and a host of others. Recession is a word, I agree, but a very challenging
word describing a critical problem. But it is a challenge. Nations have gone in
and out of recessions before now, we can jointly, working together , find
answer to this thorny all encompassing national malaise. Does the President
need emergency powers to deal with this situation ? I answer YES in the
affirmative even though I have reservations . But truth is sacrosanct . Monies
must be spent that cannot wait for the normal process of legislative approvals.
Actions must be taking by the President and his executives that cannot wait for
the usual debates in our hallowed legislative chambers. But alas, there are
fears, genuine fears of abuse of such powers, especially against political
opponents. Perhaps this is what we need to debate and work on and ensure that
all such possibilities are eliminated with legislative craftiness and deftness
that cannot be wanting amongst the robust body of our legislators . But if the
president must lead this struggle against Recession such legal framework will
assist him greatly.’
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