by Ranti Joseph
The chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) John Odigie-Oyegun has said that the promise made by the party to make Nigeria better would be fulfilled but it won’t happen overnight.
Oyegun, who disclosed this on Saturday at the two-day retreat for all APC senators-elect at the Ibeto Hotel, Abuja, explained to the senators-elect that unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism, unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of innermost strength will be required, as the party takes the centre stage in the next few days and begins to implement its programmes for the benefit of the long suffering people.
He noted that from the first day of the new government, a total of 4.1 trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few.
“Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60 billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead.
“This is not a lamentation forum, but still, we must tell ourselves the truth about the state of the nation, and the expectations of our people.
“In fact, to a number of our compatriots, by May 30th, a day after the swearing of our President-elect, all the streets in Nigeria will be air conditioned while electricity will become stable and fuel scarcity will be a thing of the past. Yes, we will get there, but it won’t happen overnight,” he added.
Oyegun while urging the senators to support Buhari said the incoming President, more than anyone else, needs the support and cooperation of the 8th National Assembly to fulfill his campaign promise to Nigerians.
“You may be required to pass important bills at very short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will require a buy-in to the programmes of the President and the Party and a willingness to work with him and the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task”
“May I also remind you that all eyes will be on our party – and by extension on all of you – to see if our government will walk its talk in terms of running a lean and effective government, one that eschews waste, corruption and indiscipline, and one that will harness the nation’s human, material and natural resources for the well- being of the people”.
“There is no magic wand to make our economy better overnight. Against the realities on the ground, some of which I listed earlier, reviving our economy will be a long and tortuous process. Bold decisions will need to be taken, and this can only be possible if there is a synergy among our party, the National Assembly and the President. We know you will not fail us, and you will not fail Nigerians,” he explained.
