November 1, 2015
Press Statement
Olisah Metuh
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) draws the attention of Nigerians to
the harmful consequences of the unabated negative statements from the
very father of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari, on the economy
and the general image of the country.
The party said “it is worrisome that in the last six months, the
President, instead of making efforts to harness resources and grow the
economy, has rather continued to apply himself, perhaps unwittingly, to
demarketing the nation and scaring away investors through negative
labeling of Nigerians and unwarranted unhealthy portrayal of the
nation’s economy”.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa
Metuh on Sunday said the President’s unwary statements have become very
serious clog in the wheel of progress, eroding the confidence of both
domestic and international investors in the Nigerian economic and social
system.
“In the last six months, our President has only succeeded in
discouraging foreign investors with his continued misrepresentation of
our country as a business unfriendly environment, where most of the
citizens are basically corrupt, dishonest, and cannot be trusted.
“Whereas we have restated our total support for the war against
corruption, we insist that Mr. President’s unceasing blanket negative
labeling of citizens, in a country where millions of honest and
hardworking individuals/firms are genuinely contributing daily to the
development effort, is indeed a disservice and injurious to the nation
and the people.
“Furthermore, Mr. President’s recent announcement to the world that the
nation, with its abundant human and natural resources, is broke and
cannot pay cabinet ministers not only sends a discouraging signal to the
domestic and international business community, but also exposes the
ineptitude of the present administration to meaningfully and sincerely
exert itself and work with industrious and innovative investors to
create and manage wealth.
“We ask; how can any reasonable investor still have the confidence to
invest in a country where the President himself continues to alert that
his country reeks of corrupt people and that the government is broke to
the extent it cannot pay cabinet ministers?
“Is the President not directly advising investors against having
confidence in Nigeria and the system, and that they risk not being paid
for jobs awarded by government at any level?
“More worrisome is the fact that Mr. President most times, makes his
damaging comments in international fora with potential investors in
attendance to the extent that reminds one of the proverbial father who,
in the presence of potential suitors, often portrays his daughters as
wayward and yet constantly complain of their inability to find husbands.
“Indeed, this is not the way to go, Nigeria is a country blessed with
abundant human and natural resources. What we need at the moment is a
serious, innovative and practical approach with the capacity to harness
the resources and create wealth for the benefit of all, instead of an
apparently laidback scapegoat tactics with outworn excuses and unhelpful
comments.
“May we remind Mr. President that even in the darkest period of our
economic challenges, successive administrations made efforts in
steadying the economy, while always reassuring our citizens and the
international community of the strength and economic potentials of our
great nation.
“We know that in the desperation to cover its apparent lack of economic
plan, this administration has positioned cabinet ministers, upon
inauguration to concentrate on diversionary blame game on the past PDP
administration. But even this political deceit cannot combat the
unpalatable consequences of Mr. President’s damaging utterances on the
image of the nation and its economy.
Finally, we wish to remind the President and those around him that
Nigerians, by the 2015 elections, have committed the fate of the country
in his hands for the next four years and are not willing to accept
excuses for any economic failures under his watch.
Signed:
Chief Olisa Metuh
National Publicity Secretary
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