By Omeiza Ajayi
The ruling All Progressives Congress APC has reacted to recent criticisms of some of its policies by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying it was good that the ex-President rightly agreed that the policy of fuel subsidy removal and harmonisation of the FX rates are very good policies.
Noting that the tough policies needed to put the nation on track would undoubtedly have some immediate harsh effects, the APC said the President Bola Tinubu administration has taken steps to mitigate such impacts.
Obasanjo had in a statement on Sunday said President Tinubu’s policies on fuel subsidy removal and exchange rates had adversely affected the Nigerian economy.
He said the effects of the policies which were “wrongly implemented are pushing foreign investors away from Nigeria”.
He argued that “the present administration has not found the right way to handle the economy to engender confidence and trust for investors to start trooping in”.
“Today, the government has taken three decisions, two of which are necessary but wrongly implemented and have led to the impoverization of the economy and of Nigerians. These are removal of subsidy, closing the gap between the black market and official rates of exchange and the third is dealing with a military coup in Niger Republic.”
However, a member of the APC National Working Committee NWC and Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru in a chat with Vanguard said the policies were necessary, as rightly stated by the forner president.
He said; “Obasanjo rightly agreed that the policy of fuel subsidy removal and harmonisation of the FX rates are very good policies.
“Government is now taking the step to right the impact of the two major policies which although healthy and necessary have impacted on the citizens.
“It is work in progress, and efforts are made to mitigate the impact, providing the necessary cushion and hopefully wrestle the rising inflation in the land.
“HE President Tinubu assured Nigerians that he is equal to the task, and we can only ask for more time to see how the fruits will ripen. Time and patience is needed”.
In a more virulent response, a staff of the party, Bala Ibrahim, who is its Director of Publicity said the former president’s grasp of policy issues has become poor due to old age.
He said, “As a Nigerian and someone who respects Obasanjo, I think senility is beginning to come in. Obasanjo is beginning to manifest the symptoms.
“Ever since he lost the bid to have a third term in office, he has consistently attacked every regime that comes after him. He sees himself as the only one who meant well for Nigeria from independence to date. He thinks he is the best and every other leader is bad, and this is not good for a statesman. Nobody has monopoly on knowledge or style of leadership.
“Obasanjo has been consistent in his criticisms of people in leadership positions apart from himself. So, this is not an isolated case. President Bola Tinubu is not the first to be attacked by Obasanjo. Buhari and Jonathan were also victims of his criticisms. He himself did not fare better when he was the leader. In fact, Obasanjo superintended the balkanization of the Nigerian economy.
“How can he say someone who is trying to put the economy on a better pedestal is not doing the right thing? I am not a spokesman for Tinubu. Even though the party has discussed him to my knowledge, I practically feel Obasanjo has erred as he has always been doing.”
Source: Vanguard