‘Nigeria’s Economy in Trouble, Needs Emergency Economic Confab’–Prof. Wole Soyinka
*Says: “We need a Rescue Operation to Plot the Way Forward”
*Echoes: “I am fully in Support of Buhari’s Fight Against Corruption’
*Laments: “Economic condition of a nation, of a people does not deteriorate overnight”
*Explains: “Nigerians should not expect a quick turnaround of the economy”
* Nigerians Complain: “CBN Economic Policy is A Failure’
BY SAMSON SHOAGA/MAGAGING EDITOR, ABUJA
NIGERIA’S highly revered Noble Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has openly told President Muhammadu Buhari administration that Nigeria’s economy is really in trouble as it is presently and would only require a rescue operation on the platform of an emergency economic conference to salvage the situation.
Soyinka on Thursday lament at the danger prevalent in the nation’s economy, even with ‘no solution in sight by the incumbent Governor of Central Bank (CBN), Godwin Emiefele , after corrective economic criticisms were offered by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former governor of CBN now Emir of Kano and Charles Soludo, another erstwhile governor of CBN at various times. This is why many Nigerians across believe Emefiele’s economic theories are long outdated to confront the challenges of this 21st Century, if not a rescue operation would not have been suggested to save the nation’s economy. Majority of Nigerians are lamenting saying Emiefele’s economic analysis and modern theories are anti-people as the masses are suffering high inflation, starvation and pains as a result of the CBN bad policies.
Soyinka said: ”I think we really need an emergency economic conference, a rescue operation bringing as many heads as possible together to plot the way forward”. He spoke during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in his office in Abuja on Thursday, also reiterated his earlier support for the Administration’s fight against corruption. His words: ”The economic condition of a nation, of a people does not deteriorate overnight. Something came before that deterioration.”
The Nobel Laureate blamed the deterioration of the economy on ”a certain prolonged and unchecked process of attrition”, adding that Nigerians should not expect a quick turnaround of the economy.
“Recovery is going to take quite a while…The President should call an emergency economic conference, with experts to be invited. Consumers, producers, labour unions, university experts, professors, etc.”
Prof. Soyinka said the government must remain resolute in its ongoing fight against corruption, while also expressing satisfaction with “both the target and tempo of motion” as far as the government’s efforts are concerned.
Soyinka urged the government to pursue the anti-corruption battle within the confines of the law, saying that if that goal (of fighting corruption) is attained by positive means, if nothing else, the government would have moved the nation forward by many years.
Soyinka further explained: “The government must recover stolen funds and punish those who are responsible for the impoverishment of the nation, of the people and those who robbed the nation with contempt.”
Earlier, while welcoming Prof. Soyinka, the Minister said it was a great pleasure to host the Nobel Laureate whom, he said, had come on a private visit.
Lai Mohammed however said that with his level of fame and accomplishments, it was practically impossible for Prof. Soyinka to go anywhere unnoticed.
Lai Mohammed thanked Prof. Soyinka for making the Ministry of Information and Culture his first port of call.
