Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, alongside other prominent figures, yesterday called for better democracy and stability anchored on sound economic policies. They insisted that Nigeria is in an economic crisis marked by rising poverty, inflation, unemployment, and widespread suffering.
The call was made at this year's lecture of The Niche Newspaper, themed: 'Governing the Economy: Choices, Trade-offs and National Priorities,' held in Lagos.
Sanusi Advocates for Subsidy Removal
Emir Sanusi stated that Nigeria would not be in its current predicament if the fuel subsidy had been removed in 2011. He stressed that the country urgently needs stability to alleviate the pains and hardships citizens are enduring. Sanusi recalled that the subsidy regime was unsustainable, especially for an oil-producing nation, and described subsidy removal as a necessary intervention.
'You cannot remove wastages and continue borrowing. You need to see the benefits. What are we borrowing for? If governance is all about making money, all the policies you put in place would be geared towards making money from the people,' he said.
Otti Emphasizes Economic Literacy
Governor Otti noted that accelerated economic development is impossible when decision-makers are ignorant of economic laws and dynamics. He emphasized that the foundation of economic governance rests on the decisions made by those in power, and that the political choices citizens make will determine political outcomes.
Obi of Onitsha Laments Political Focus
The Obi of Onitsha expressed frustration over the excessive attention given to politics at the expense of governance. However, he expressed optimism about a ray of light in Abia State under Governor Otti's leadership.
Ajaero Questions Voter Apathy
Joe Ajaero, speaking on citizens' engagement and voter apathy, questioned the importance of voting when votes do not count. He affirmed that in Abia's 2023 elections, votes did count.
