A Chieftain of the All
Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Tony Momoh has described the recent call by
the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) as a wake up
call for all Nigerians to be interested in the way the Nigerian economy is being
run by the current administration.
In a telephone interview, the former national chairman of the
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) noted that the NGF though does not have
constitutional backing; its views on national issues should not be ignored
since it operates like a trade union.
His words, “The Amaechi led NGF was speaking for Nigerians even
though the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) does not have a constitutional role.
However, they operate like a trade union and can exchange their opinion on any
matter of national importance.
“Thy have called the finance Minister to resign and she said she
will not resign. They have the right to call for her resignation but cannot
enforce it. In a democracy, there is freedom of expression of what you agree on
and what you do not agree on. However, we should learn to accommodate other
people’s views regardless of where it is coming from.”
Also reacting to the call, Chief Banco Rhodes, a public affairs
analyst and member of the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) lamented that the
Nigerian economy has not fared any better under the current Finance Minister,
Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.
According to him, you cannot be driving an economic growth and
yet there is economic depression all over the country, a development he
insisted must be changed.
“Well, the truth is that you cannot drive an economic growth and
yet there is economic depression all over the place. The call is right even
though coming from Amaechi who himself is a culprit of the economic woes of
Nigeria. I am of the opinion that Amaechi is right. There is nothing wrong with
the call. People should rather look at the issues raised for which the call was
made; whether they are true or not,” he said.
It would be recalled that the NGF led by the Rivers State
Governor, Rotimi Amaechi rose from its meeting on Tuesday night and demanded
the resignation of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the
Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, if she could not comply strictly with the 2013
Appropriation Act.
The Forum also canvassed the immediate disbanding of the Economic
Management Team.
The Forum expressed concern in the management of the economy by
the Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and called
for a strict adherence to the Appropriation Act, 2013, failing which she should
resign.
It observed that the National Economic Council is
constitutionally responsible for the management of the economy and should be
used for that purpose as opposed to the Economic Management Team constituted by
the Presidency.
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