…Says Nigeria’s economy as it is today is dead
…Wondered why the
Nation refused to fix it’s refineries but prefer to import
By Tunde Abatan
Economist and corporate boardroom player,Marcel Okeke, has asked Nigerians to elect leaders who are knowledgeable about economic issues and have the capacity to curb insecurity in the country as the nation moves towards the 2023 elections.
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According to him,the country’s economy as it is today is dead and only a knowledgeable leader can solve the problem and pull the nation back.
In an exclusive interview with Newdawnngr team,
Okeke said that as things stands today the problem with the country entails getting competent leaders among the pack of Presidential aspirants who have the economic knowhow to solve the myriad of problems confronting the country.
In answer to a question, Okeke a veteran business journalists who have served in top management positions said the problem with the country is not the issue of religion but economy.
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Said he,”I keep on saying those who are talking about religion are missing the point.
“We need somebody who has the capacity to deal with current level of insecurity and knowledgeable enough to turn arround the economy.”
He wonders why the nation is still talking about fuel subsidy when those in government should be talking about fixing or privatizing the Refinery.
Okeke wondered why the nation cannot fix it’s refineries but prefer to import.
According to him for as long as the country remain an importer of petroleum product it will continue to talk about subsidy adding,”how could a nation abandon it’s four refineries and keep on importing.”
He explained that for as long as the price of crude oil is on the increase in the international oil market,the issue of subsidy which today stook at N4 trillion will continue to draw back the economy.
As a result,he contended that money that should be spent on the economy to turn it arround and provide jobs is being used to maintain subsidy due to the non functionality of the refineries.
Speaking further, he argued that a situation in which the country cannot even meet it’s OPEC quota due to insecurity and oil theft,will make it to continue to reel in debt as larger percentage of little foreign earned from export is spent on debt servicing.
“For as long as we are not producing and making enough money,we will keep on borrowing and as that persists the country will be dead economically.
On the various presidential aspirants, he also spoke on the need to get focused leaders who can adopt policies that will inject more funds in the economy to create more jobs for thousands of unemployed graduates thereby reducing insecurity cause by economic problems of unemployment and mass poverty in the country.
