Buhari needs emergency powers to deal with recession – Okupe

 

 Dr. Doyin Okupe.

 

Former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe says President Muhammadu Buhari needs emergency powers to deal with the current economic situation in the country.

Okupe who made the comments on his Facebook page on Monday also called on Nigerians to exercise restraints, support the government, and put an end to extreme partisanship in the face of a major threatening national emergency.

“It is a fact that Nigeria as a country is in dire straits in terms of its economy. It is not too important how we got here or who or what brought us here. We need an exit plan desperately.

“Recession is a word, I agree, but a very challenging word describing a critical problem. But it is a challenge. Nations have gone in and out of recessions before now, we can jointly, working together, find answer to this thorny all encompassing national malaise.

“Does the President needs emergency powers to deal with this situation? I answer YES in the affirmative even though I have reservations. But truth is sacrosanct. Monies must be spent that cannot wait for the normal process of legislative approvals. Actions must be taken by the President and his Executives that cannot wait for the usual debates in our hallowed legislative chambers,” he said.

He advised the government to carry the citizens along in all of its actions in getting the country out of recession, and cautioned the opposition against throwing diatribes at the President.

“While wailing, howling or even cursing from the populace will certainly not help our situation, pretence, conceit or sheer optimism from government quarters also is no panacea for the economic infirmity bedevilling our nation.

“We need to, and we must put all hands on deck. May be President Buhari's famous quote"....We have no other country that we can call our own" is more apt now than "the change begins with me " mantra, which may not be as bad as it is being presented, except that the cliché was coming almost 18months late. It would have been better received if it was part of the inaugural speech of the president.”

Okupe said although there are genuine fears that whatever emergency powers given to the president might be abused against political opponents, he advised that the nation should work on and ensure that; “all such possibilities are eliminated with legislative craftiness and deftness that cannot be wanting amongst the robust body of our legislators.”