Osita Okechukwu, a stalwart and spokesman of the South-East leadership caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) has revealed why Ndigbo should give their full support to President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
Osita Okechukwu
Okechukwu who was a recipient of an award from the Junior Chambers International (Jacees) Enugu City for his contribution to the deepening of democracy in Nigeria at the weekend, hinted that the eight-year term of the incumbent president is the fastest way to actualising their dream of a Nigerian of Igbo extraction.
The APC chieftain who was also recognised for the success of the APC in the last general elections urged Ndigbo to fully support the present administration. Delivering his speech titled: “30 Years of Structural Adjustment Program,” he attributed the helplessness, despair and despondency in the country to the SAP and its growth of anti-people economic policies.
Okechukwu pleaded with Nigerians to ignore those that started ethnic nationalism as a remedy to prosperity and economic empowerment, noting that they were wrong. The party chieftain stated that any narrative that also think Ndigbo cannot prosper within the Nigeria political atmosphere was also wrong.
According to him, Ndigbo as an ethnic nationality is one of the most flourishing in Nigeria and are widely travelled, settled and accepted, own investments in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano among others.
“Whereas, I join in pleading for Nnamdi kanu’s release, it must be pointed out that his narrative is vile and condemnable. His negative propaganda shows that he does not care about the strides Ndigbo made nationwide nor the lives of Ndigbo in Dutse, Potiskum, Mubi and Akure. My humble self fought in the boy’s company and knows the danger of kanu’s negative narrative.
“History is not a witness to Kanu’s narrative. There is no nation state one can point at that didn’t fight one civil war or the other or is not a mere geographical expression. United States, india, united Kingdom, China, Germany among others fought at various times. What happened is that they healed their wounds and moved on,” he said.
Okechukwu further stated that the plight of the Nigerian youths need to be looked into, adding that the hopelessness; despair and despondency of the youths call for vigilance as this impedes the country’s development. He solicited for thorough inspection of the performance of councilors, legislators, governors and President in order to ensure to are not increasing the suffering.
The APC chieftain said there were cases in the South-East were governors embezzled public funds entrusted to them as well as personalized power. He said such governors should be queried by the people instead of looking elsewhere.
“Once more, I appeal that we support President Muhamadu Buhari in constructing a progressive and prosperous Nigeria. He has created platform for Infrastructure Fund to demonstrate his commitment in fixing federal roads nationwide, fast track the Second Niger Bridge and investing heavily in public infrastructure via prudent management, Foreign Direct Investment, recovery of looted funds and cooperation of the private sector.
“Consequently, Buhari’s eight year term is the fastest route to actualize our dream of president of Igbo extraction, albeit through peaceful means and not through propaganda. For the zoning convention is when you consider all factors, in our favour in 2023, as our brothers in the South West and South-South had been president since our return to civil rule in 1999,” Okechukwu said.
According to him, Buhari’s patriotic resistance to SAP ‘that government has no business in business’ was a contributory factor to his overthrow in 1985, adding that his successor, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida embraced the programme. The APC chief lamented that 30 years gone by, it has been nothing but massive unemployment, poverty, corruption, huge debt, economic uncertainty and a divided nation.
“It seems history is about repeating itself, as one notes the raging battle between the neo-liberals and the Keynesians for Buhari’s signature. Professor Charles Soludos of this world and some IMF-World Bank pundits are in the trenches enumerating the fine figures of growth achieved in the last decade, without mentioning the devastating poverty unleashed by the economic model.
“One subscribes to John Maynard Keynes school of thought that in time of great depression as we have, the only solution left for the government is large scale intervention in critical infrastructure. Without public spending in public works, our downward spiral economic conditions and gross unemployment will persist with unintended consequences.
“The best luck is that Mr. President is an epitome of the Keynesian school of thought as evidenced by building of Warri and Kaduna refineries when he was Minister of Petroleum and his public works in Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
“Accordingly, Jacees and my brothers and sisters, let nobody deceive you that the hardship and despondency in the land is because you are Igbo. No, it is far from the truth, nothing but the outcome of anti-people economic policy which knocked off social safety nets like agricultural subsidies, free education and free healthcare,” he said.
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