He’s not fit to govern, says ex-Kaduna gov
You’re talking nonsense –Ex-petroleum minister
By Iheanacho Nwosu
Former
governor of old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa and former Petroleum
Resources minister, Prof. Tam David-West yesterday, clashed over
President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to govern Nigeria.
On his part, Musa charged Nigerians to be
ready for worse economic situation in months to come contending that
Buhari has shown that he lacks ideas on how to address the nation’s
socio-economic problems.
He claimed that Buhari’s administration
was hiding under falling crude oil prices at the international market to
cover its inefficiency and lack of direction especially in the
management of the economy.
But, David-West dismissed Musa’s claim as
nonsense. He said the president is not a magician and could not have
turned the economy around in a day.
Both Musa and West expressed their views in an interview with Daily Sun on Monday evening.
Describing the situation in the country
as pathetic, Musa, a former presidential candidate of Peoples Redemption
Party (PRP) said the Buhari administration was showing clearly that it
was incapable of steering Nigeria out of the woods.
“We have to be honest to ourselves; this
government has spent over seven months yet, there is no convincing
economic blueprint on ground on how we can reinvent our economy. It is
showing very well that it lacks ideas; it cannot cope with our severe
economic challenges.
“All of us should set sentiments aside
and prepare our minds for the worst in months to come.”Asked if he does
not reckon with Buhari’s war on corruption and if he was not aware of
the rot the president said he met on ground when he took over power, the
former governor said the president has his backing on the fight against
corruption. “Of course, you know that I would always support any
sincere effort(s) by any government at ridding this country of
corruption. But, such war has to be genuine. He has to take the battle
to everybody who is believed to have stolen public funds, irrespective
of the party he belongs to.Asked about the alleged rot left by former
president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Musa replied: “Every
Nigerian knew how I battled that administration. I agree that it left a
legacy of rot in the economy and the political system, but people voted
for Buhari because they wanted him to clear the mess and not to increase
hardship in the country.
“To tell you that this government lacks
idea about the economy, it knew that the price of oil was at $38 at the
time it was preparing the budget, it pegged the benchmark at $35 instead
of $28. Look at the foreign exchange mess we have been into. Government
does not know how to handle the situation,” Musa insisted.
In his reaction, David-West argued that
though there is genuine reason to be concerned about the falling oil
price, the incumbent administration has handled the development very
well.
“I don’t think there is any basis for
criticising President Buhari on what is happening at the international
market regarding crude oil price. It is a global issue.
“What Balarabe Musa is saying is
nonsense. Buhari is sincere and he is the only one good enough to lead
Nigeria at a time like the one we have at hand.”
He advised government to take advantage
of the low oil price to diversify the economy even as he urged Nigerians
to support the president and his administration.
Source: sunnewsonline
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