Nnaya Eziyi, Umuahia
South East Zone and Abia State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Chief Emeka Okafor has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is mismanaging the economy of Nigeria.
Okafor stated this while speaking to our correspondent on the prevailing economic situation in the country in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, calling on the government to find a lasting solution to the recession and social and economic problems facing the country
He accused the present administration of alleged misplaced priorities, lopsided appointments, neglecting the zone, and nepotism, saying the administration is yet to chart clear course of direction in its fight against corruption.
Accepting that corruption is one of the major challenges facing the country, the state chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), argued that for the war against corruption to be successful, it must be wholesome no matter whose ox is gored.
Looking back over the years, he said, “During the five years or so when Abacha was on the saddle of power the US S1 exchanged for between N85.00 and N86.00 as against now when it about N400.00 and the economy of the country was both stable and predictable.”
According to him, Abacha’s problem with majority of his critics was that he denied them the opportunity “to use our collective fortunes and resources as their personal estate to concentrate on building a strong economy in the country.”
He denied the view that the PPA was weak because of the defection of the founding leader of former governor of state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to the All Progressive Congress (APC). According to him the party was still waxing stronger and already preparing for the 2019 general election.
Okafor, who was once a Commissioner for Trade and Commerce under Kalu, condemned what he called the avalanche of litigation that always follows governorship election in the state, saying in some cases the matters last up to two years.
“What the litigants have always failed to understand is that they are not only distracting the governor from focusing on delivering on his election promises, but also dragging the state behind and creating enmity among the people,” he noted.
Asked of his impression of the present administration in the state, he scored the Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu very high especially in road construction and infrastructure development, soliciting the cooperation of the people for the governor.
On whether his party will field a governorship candidate in the election despite his believe that Ikpeazu had perform to his satisfaction, the former commissioner maintained that his stand was his personal opinion and not of the party.
“This is democracy. If someone is doing well another person can do better than him or her if given the opportunity. So as a registered political party, we will fill candidates for all the elections my personal opinion not withstanding”
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