Buhari responsible for Nigeria’s economic woes – PDP chieftain

Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe

Jamiu Yisa

Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, Adeseye Ogunlewe, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being responsible for the country’s economic woes, adding that he needs to do more than he has been doing to remedy the situation.

Speaking in an interview, Ogunlewe said that For over 10 years out of the 16 years the PDP held federal power, there was no inflation but a year after relinquishing it to APC Nigerians are groaning over economic recession.

He, however, expressed optimism that gradually, he could still turn things around positively. “Slightly, I still believe he can rescue the situation but he has to do a lot more than what he has been doing before. It was his fault, government to me is a continuum and waiting for another one year or six months, seven months, eight months before he appointed his ministers was not the best way because during that period Nigeria did not work at all, everything was at a standstill.

“Most of the contractors were not working as everybody was just getting salary without working .There was no government, there were no activities throughout the federation, there was no budget, it was not the best for the country. He shut the entire country down for one year. That notwithstanding we can start from there and move forward.

“For over 10 years out of the 16 years the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held federal power, there was no inflation but a year after relinquishing it to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nigerians are groaning over economic recession,” he said.

When asked if it was possible that the president had no knowledge about the management of the economy or simply because his economic team was not in tune with current realities, he said that it was not compulsory for him to know about any specific idea.

“You don’t have to be an economist, engineer or doctor but you have access to people that can assist you. Professional people that are experts in so many fields can help internally and externally but the external people they trust and there is the deficiency in the composition of the cabinet. You have to look for somebody that has been part of the International Monetary Fund; that has been part of the World Bank that they can place their face on, that they have been working with.

“It is very important in governance but if you don’t do that you have to get a few of them that have been in the international arena like the IMF and let them participate in the things you are doing, that is very important, he said.