Reviewing the state of the nation as it affectsthe economy, Deputy Senate President Ike
Ekweremadu yesterday advised President
Muhammadu Buhari to remove Budget and
National Planning Minister, Sen. Udoma Udo
Udoma and Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi
Adeosun.
However, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna
Central) said sacking the two ministers will not
solve the current economic crisis.
Ekweremadu said the Buhari administration
“should not put square pegs in round hole.” This
is even as the Speaker, House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara urged Mr.
President to address the National Assemlby, a
view expressed by Sen. Ekweremadu who said
Nigerians want to see Buhari and not his
ministers at Town Hall meetings.
The Deputy Senate President spoke yesterday
while contributing to the debate on the economy
especially the current recession. The Senate
resumed from its two-month recess on Tuesday
when Senate President Bukola Saraki joined a
business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote in calling
for the sale of national assets such as the
Nigeria LNG, refineries and stakes in African
Finance Corporation.
Ekweremadu said: “The President needs to look
at his cabinet. He has to put square peg in
square hole. Udo Udoma is my friend. He is an
accomplished lawyer for that matter, but in
fairness to him, I believe he can do better in
another ministry especially like trade and
investment, certainly not Budget and Planning.
“The Minister of Finance can do much better in
another ministry. At this critical, time we need
somebody who is more experienced to man the
Ministry of Finance so that he can coordinate the
strategies for this recovery.
“I also believe that we need to have all hands on
deck right now. It does not matter their religion.
It does not matter their party. We need to go all
out and look for the best brain to come and help
us to come out of this recession. America was in
recession in 1930s, but they recovered within
three years.
“What did they do? All Americans came together
irrespective of their political persuasion and they
were able to come up with a solution. At this
point, it does not matter to us whether you are
APC or PDP or you are non-align. The important
thing is that the President has to look for the
best people to come together to proffer
solutions. It does not matter which party you
belong.
“I also believe that since oil is one of our, we
need to begin to negotiate in terms of
engagement with our oil majors, a situation
where the production cost in Nigeria is between
$18 and $24 is unacceptable and it is not
happening anywhere in the world.
“Our people do not need to hear lamentations.
They want to listen and hear messages of hope.
It is important that our people hear the right
message. International community hear the
wrong message when investors are told that our
economy cannot recover that our people are
corrupt.
“This is the time for us to be united. This is the
time for the President to ignore this issue of
Town Hall meetings and go directly to the
people. My people did not vote for Lai
Mohammed or any minister. They want to see
the President they voted for.
“The President needs to go round and visit this
country and assure them that they are part and
parcel of this country called Nigeria. I also
believe that in the long term, we need to also
diversify the economy. I am happy that this is
happening now and it is time for us to learn from
the hardship that would enable us to look
beyond oil,” he said.
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