… Hails Tinubu on Sustainable Economic Initiatives.
Former Governor of Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has re-echoed the call for restructuring, as the surest way to reviving and resuscitating Nigeria: socio, political and economically.
Ohakim made this call through the paper he presented as part of activities marking the 2025 Synod of Orlu Anglican Diocese, hosted at St. Mary’s Anglican Church Amandugba, Isu Local Government Area of Imo State, Saturday, June 7, with the title, “Rebuilding Nigeria’s Troubled Economy: Practical Insight Into the Challenges and Solutions.
He noted that Nigeria was supposed to be practicing federalism, but the consensus, both within and outside the country is that she is not practicing True Federalism, positing that that is the major cause of the glaring economic disequilibrium in “Our socio-politico-economic milieu”.
He said, “For me, therefore, our effort at finding a solution to our myriad of economic problems will continue to fail to give the needed result if we fail to restructure the country politically”.
He further re-echoed the age-long popular opinion that the autonomy which the three regions of Nigeria enjoyed during the period of True Federalism led to an impressive rate of economic growth and development among the regions, and in the country as a whole.
He asserted that efforts by the country’s past leaders over the years to tackle its perennial economic challenges have been merely quick fixes, in order to excape criticisms and appear popular among the people.
The former Imo State Governor, however posited that it is only in the last two years of President Bola Tinubu’s administration that the country was going beyond quick fixes, to fundamentally address the root cause of the economic problems.
According to the paper presenter, though very tough on the citizens, the economic policies of president Tinubu holds brighter future for the country, adding that there are signs of stabilization, as price of petrol is steadily coming down, from about N1500 at the pick of price hike as a result of the subsidy removal to about N900 currently per liter across Nigeria, with uninterrupted availability.
He added that the removal of fuel subsidy has freed monies that were hitherto stashed away by a few during the subsidy regime into the hand of government, making the states to receive enormously improved allocation, which he said some state Governors like Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State were utilizing judiciously to provide both tangible and intangible good governance.
He faulted the idea of some churches who tell their congregants that all they need is to pray hard, that God will supply all their needs, adding that some pastors demand daily attendance to church programmes, most of which conflict with business or working hours from their members.
Ohakim, however commended leadership of the Orlu Diocese for not gathering the people for vigil to pray for God’s intervention, but coming up with a topic that will provoke the thought on how to use God’s already given wisdom to interrogate the key issues militating against God’s wish for His people to live happily on earth.
The paper presenter listed some solutions to the political and economic quagmire of the country thus; political restructuring, which he enthused that President Tinubu possesses the innate courage to undertake, population control, to arrest the indiscriminate explosion of the country’s population beyond every reasonable imagination, deliberate rebuilding of the local economy, by tapping into some natural economic endowments like palm, among others.
Responding on behalf of the array of Bishops and Anglican clergy at the event, His Grace Archbishop David Onuoha appreciated Chie Ohakim for the thought provoking lecture, praying that leaders of Nigeria should listen and implement the recommendations in it.
He enthused that if Nigerian government follows the path chatted in the paper, the country will definitely rise again.
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