Written by Emediong George
Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Monday, said that bad governance and not COVID-19 is responsible for Nigeria’s second recession in four years.
The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed had earlier claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the drastic decline in Gross Domestic Output (GDP).
Adebanjo while speaking with journalist at the governor’s office after a visit to Governor Seyi Makinde in Oyo State said only ignorant persons will buy into the official narratives that COVID-19 as a reason for another recession in the country.
According to the elder statesman, COVID-19 only compounded the weak economy and political instability that reigned with the Buhari-led administration.
Though he described the trend of developments in the country as sad, Adebanjo said he was not surprised at the failure of the Buhari government to establish a solid economy.
“I am not surprised; I am only sad. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has never been an acceptable one to me. He does not know and he does not know that he does not know.
“We are not ignorant people. When did COVID-19 begin? What position did COVID-19 meet us? Other countries also had COVID-19 but because of a solid economy; solid political stability, it did not affect them as we are having.
“Don’t be deceived by COVID-19; we are not the only victim of COVID-19. But because of the bad administration that COVID-19 met us, that we are having this.
“And instead of facing this, he is talking of harassing, suppressing the press. We are back to the military regime. This is not what we fight for,” Adebanjo said.
Reiterating his calls for restructuring, Adebanjo described the country as a military-imposed, fraudulent constitution to be discarded.
The elder statesman added that “The way is for him to restructure the country now and you don’t entertain anybody asking where the presidency will go. It is a diversion.
“When we restructure the country and have an acceptable constitution agreed to by all the federating units, not the one imposed on us by the military. We will know where the presidency will go; the presidency is the right of any unit of the country.”
