*PDP Chief speaks on Protests, Oil and Gas, Power, Fuel Subsidy, Food Insecurity, Inflation, Restructuring
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has declared that with series of crises in the country, Nigeria “is in a political and economic Intensive Care Unit and we desperately need proper surgeons – political surgeons and economic surgeons – to save the country”.
George also urged President Bola Tinubu to revisit some of his policies to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.
The former Military Governor of old Ondo State (1987 – 1990), who gave the advice while addressing a news conference on state of the nation in Lagos on Thursday, called on the President to unravel issues around oil and gas as well as power sectors to get the country out of the woods.
“Having been trained by this nation and worked for this country, if I see things not going in the right direction and keep quiet, I will be failing. So, it is not a matter of fighting.
“Our country Nigeria is in a political and economic intensive care unit.
“So, we desperately need proper surgeons – political surgeons and economic surgeons.
“We are talking about people who have gone through this before, who should be able to come to give us that freshness of breath to get out.
“We must put smiles on faces of Nigerians no matter where they reside.
“Well, some of us can manage, but what about the myriads of so many young Nigerians who cannot even have any meal,” George said.
Speaking on the oil and gas sector and issues around fuel subsidy, the elder statesman urged the President to speak the truth to Nigerians.
“In the oil sector, we hear about fuel subsidy today, next day, we hear there is no fuel subsidy.
“So, what exactly is the truth? We want to know. My perception of the handling of the oil sector of our country is very disappointing,” he said.
On electricity, the Lagos PDP leader decried the high cost of power, saying that the development had killed so many small businesses out of markets.
George, who expressed surprise that not one of 18 gas turbines bought by former President Olusegun Obasanjo had been fired, said that regular and cost effective power supply remained the backbone of the economy.
“Even this office, we spend nothing less than N3 million a month now for only electricity and I wonder how small businesses can survive in this kind of situation,” he said.
On the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, George commended young Nigerians who went out peacefully to give feedback of policies to the government.
“It is normal, especially in a democratic governance. The government is supposed to listen to those who voted for them.
“The Gen Zs are restless, and what is happening in the North is a reflection of the restlessness of the youth.
“They have been to university and graduated. Where is hope, where is job and where is food? They are bound to react,” he said.
On food insecurity, the PDP leader, noting that the solution was not in the importation of food, said there should be short, medium and long term policies to empower farmers.
On inflation, the former military governor urged the President to assemble former and current managing directors of banks in a closed door meeting for the way forward.
On Nigerian Constitution, George, who advocated restructuring, power devolution, resources control and electoral reforms, urged the President and the National Assembly to revisit the 2014 National Conference.
“I am hoping that Asiwaju (the President) will be bold enough to reform nation’s constitution. This is going to be a decisive measure of his commitment to this country,” he said.
On the recent Supreme Court’s ruling granting full autonomy to local governments, he said that the Federal Government did not have any business with local governments.
Speaking further, the elder statesman decried the alleged high-handedness of Lagos State taskforce in impounding and auctioning motorcycles and vehicles of traffic offenders, describing it as wickedness.
The elder statesman said that Nigeria must bury the problem of tribalism and religious bigotry slowing down its progress.
