Former Head of state , General Yakubu Gowon (retd),
yesterday, took a retrospective look at the situation in the country and asked
President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the country’s economy regain its
strength to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
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| Gen Gowon |
Gen. Gowon Gowon spoke at
Ile-Ife at a programme, Health Caravan and Award ceremony for the Ooni of Ife,
Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, who was conferred with the Royal Ambassador for Hepatitis
Advocacy in Nigeria by the Seham Health Care Foundation as part of activities
to commemorate the 2016 World Hepatitis Day. Fielding questions from newsmen
shortly after the award ceremony, Gowon urged Nigerians to cooperate with the
government, saying that the Federal Government was doing everything within its
reach to resolve the economic challenges facing the nation. On solution to
Nigeria’s economic challenges, Gowon said, “ Let the current authority find a
way out of the current economic crisis. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun,
has been telling us what they have been doing to get the economy strong again.
She said all will be well by September. Let’s wait till then. “I have left
government for a long time, so I may not really
know what the problem is. The current administration should do whatever
they can to solve to economic challenges. They should find a way to restore
confidence in the citizens and the nation at large by fixing the economy.” On
the controversial budget padding which resurfaced, the elder statesman wondered
why the issue of budget padding became the order of the day in Nigeria, saying
such never occurred during his administration.
He, however, urged government
not to allow anyone found guilty of budget padding to go scot free to serve as
deterrent to others. His words: “ If that is true. If anybody is doing that,
the person should be checked and stopped to ensure that such does not occur in
the future. “We didn’t do it during my time. We had Chief Obafemi Awolowo
in-charge of our finance and he taught us to survive without borrowing. Such
(budget padding) should stop, there is no point doing that”, he added.
Receiving the award, the Ooni urged
Nigerians to ensure that they support the less privileged in their domain. He
expressed delight at being awarded and called on Nigerians to cultivate the
habit of celebrating good leaders. On her part, the Executive Secretary of
Seham, Princess Adepeju Hameed, explained that since the formation of the
foundation, the rate of Hepatitis has reduced in Nigeria. She noted that the
Ooni was awarded to deepen the awareness about the disease and its control.
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