NAN-HE-1
Economy
Bauchi, Nov.23, 2016 (NAN) A university don, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim, has called on the Federal Government to ensure balancing in its anti-graft war and efforts at resuscitating the nation’s economy.
Ibrahim told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Wednesday that although the anti-corruption fight was remarkable and had yielded positive returns, it should go “side-by-side” with other issues, particularly resuscitation of the economy.
“The President is doing a good job in fighting corruption but there is need to also address the economic down-turn that is making life difficult for ordinary Nigerians.
“The anti-graft crusade appears to be over-shadowing other key areas, especially the economy and something needs to be done,” said Ibrahim, a lecturer at the Bauchi State University.
He said that because of Buhari’s antecedent, Nigerians had faith in his ability to turn things around to reduce their hardship and were anxiously waiting to start reaping the dividends of democracy.
Ibrahim, who teaches International Relations, also advised that the Nigerian government should start preparing grounds to foster its interest under the new United States administration of President Donald Trump.
“The Nigerian leadership should start making moves to foster the country’s interest under the Trump regime.
“It is not out of place, for example, to reach out to Trump by either sending a delegation to US to congratulate him, or through other means, with a view to extracting some commitments from him.
“That was what the Japanese just did when their Prime Minister went to congratulate the US President-elect, in spite of Trump’s anti-Japan rhetoric during his campaign.
“This is how it should be; there is never a permanent enemy but permanent interest,” he said. (NAN)
AE/ASH/ASH