<\/p>\n
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for a stimulus<\/p>\n
package for states and local governments of the federation as a quick<\/p>\n
measure to bail out the governments from the present economic quagmire.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Besides, he has enjoined the in-coming government at the federal level to<\/p>\n
forge a national consensus on economy direction, if Nigeria must move<\/p>\n
forward.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Speaking Friday in Lagos at the presentation and launch of a book entitled<\/p>\n
\u201c Delta Beyond Oil: A legacy of Sustainable Development\u201d written by Mr.<\/p>\n
Sam Omatseye, at a forum organized by Nigeria Institute of Directors, the<\/p>\n
Governor said that the stimulus package however has to be discussed and<\/p>\n
attended to quickly.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to him, this has become necessary because currently about 30<\/p>\n
states including the federal government were either not able to fund<\/p>\n
recurrent cost including payment of salaries or have to borrow money to<\/p>\n
pay for it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI stand with those asking for stimulus package for the states and local<\/p>\n
governments. This has to be discussed and attended to quickly\u201d, he stated.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dr Uduaghan said that the failure of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party<\/p>\n
(PDP) at the centre to grow the nation\u2019s economy to the desired result was<\/p>\n
attributable to lack of national consensus.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
His words: \u201cI am sure many of us in the audience will recall several<\/p>\n
attempts that were made by the PDP government at the centre to ensure that<\/p>\n
we build up our fiscal buffers, reduce our foreign debt, invest in foreign<\/p>\n
assets through sovereign wealth fund and have something for the rainy day<\/p>\n
but somehow lack of national consensus made that impossible\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it a PDP failure alone? No it is not. It is a collective failure. Many<\/p>\n
APC chieftains who are basking in the glow of winning power at the centre<\/p>\n
were main actors in the politics that stalled further progress in the<\/p>\n
direction highlighted\u201d, he added<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, he stressed that it was important that whatever APC does it must<\/p>\n
forge national consensus on economic direction, if Nigeria is to move<\/p>\n
forward.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of what I have said will test APC. APC must prove it\u2019s a party to be<\/p>\n
trusted. Nigerians are anxious to see how the party conducts itself. How<\/p>\n
they act in power. Is APC in power better or different from APC in<\/p>\n
opposition? The answer is blowing in the wind. Though, it might be too<\/p>\n
early to judge but I have my deep doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSo far, I do not think they are taking the right steps. They have<\/p>\n
jettisoned zoning. They are sounding unsure of themselves about how to<\/p>\n
manage the economy. General Buhari wants tips from President Jonathan,<\/p>\n
some outlandish promises have been made, one of which is naira\/dollar<\/p>\n
parity.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cAPC is obviously worried about weight of public expectations it raised<\/p>\n
from the propaganda it fed Nigerians, the party is obviously trying to<\/p>\n
distance itself from the promises they made, which under current situation<\/p>\n
is impossible to fulfill.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWith a growth rate of 6.08%, Nigeria\u2019s GDP value represents 0.84% of<\/p>\n
global economy. This is quite small. I think therefore the change APC<\/p>\n
wants to make should be their ability to double the size of Nigeria\u2019s<\/p>\n
economy. Under current growth rate of 6.08% it will, by some estimates,<\/p>\n
take 11 years to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know how many Nigerians that will be patient for that to happen<\/p>\n
in 11 years. To create prosperity, APC must work hard to double the<\/p>\n
national growth rate and hence double the size of Nigeria\u2019s economy at a<\/p>\n
shorter time. Otherwise, Nigerians are going to show APC the door in<\/p>\n
2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
A cross section of prominent Deltans at the event includes Pa Philip<\/p>\n
Asiodu, Professor Grace Alele\u2013Williams and Pa Sam Amuka of the Vanguard<\/p>\n
newspaper amongst others graced the occasion.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In another development, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has commissioned the<\/p>\n
State Governor\u2019s lodge Lagos.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
At a very brief ceremony, Dr. Uduaghan said that he had to undertake the<\/p>\n
project to give the state a befitting place in Lagos, disclosing that<\/p>\n
\u201cthe lodge is not his personal building but a state government project<\/p>\n
and would be use by successive governments\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The State commissioner for Housing, Mr Solomon Ighrakpata said the project<\/p>\n
comprised a five bedroom duplex, a three bedroom guest house , a tennis<\/p>\n
court amongst other facilities<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has called for a stimulus package for states and local governments of the federation as a quick measure to bail out the governments…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n