Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has made it clear that the destiny of Nigeria cannot and should not be tied to the world bank in anyway.
“I believe that our destiny is not in the hands or the fine prints of the World Bank.
“The bank may mean well, and can be of help to us, but they have not worn our shoes and they do not know where it pinches.
“It is our walk not their own, so while they talk the talk, let us walk the walk. We wear the shoes and we know where it pinches.”
Senator Akpabio, who was addressing fellow Senators at the beginning today, October 19, of four-day retreat in Akwa Ibom State, stressed the need for Nigerians to take their destinies in their hands.
“We must take our destiny in our own hands and make the legend of this country as the giant of Africa a reality.
“Let us build this country, and fix it in such a way that those who fled this country like Naomi fled Israel in the time of famine, in one of the stories in the Bible, would hear that the Lord has visited our country again and would run back cap in hand, like Naomi ran back to Israel.”
The Senate President noted that every major national development is based on a road map designed by citizens of the respective countries. “The Frenchmen, Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rosseau, were the brains behind the French revolution. “Kim Dae-jung changed the fortunes of South Korea. Lenin transformed Tsarist Russia and turned it into a super power. “These people and more succeeded because they had plans and their countrymen and women followed their plans.
“Let us follow the plan before us. The founding fathers of our nation (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Owolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello etc.) had and followed a plan of development, and Nigeria, in their days, occupied a place of pride in the comity of nations. “Since then, we have not had the kind of elaborate plan put forward by Mr President (Bola Tinubu) and which targets growth in critical sectors of our economy and seek to remove wastages in our economic cycle.
“Let us provide the launching pad for this audacious plan and acquit ourselves as patriots and worthy representatives of our people.
“Every plan, no matter how lofty and noble, needs to be financed. “That is why we need to be taught public expenditure management, fiscal policy, and tax reforms. “Fortunately, the Renewed Hope plan is strong on the economic side. It proposes a ten percent economic growth, which experts claim are achievable.
“It singles out the digital economy as a quick win for foreign exchange and job creation.
“We should note that Nigeria is the seventh largest internet using country in the world with an estimated number of 104.4 million users.
“Let us remember what the President said, “Our Renewed Hope Action Plan outlines goals for greater economic growth in our cities and rural communities.
“We are committed to an economy of double-digit GDP growth, greater food security and one with a strengthened manufacturing base, as well as an active digital economy where young people will have ample space to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.” Akpabio described the measures as lofty goals which should pull the strings of the nation’s hearts, “and which we need to fully key into, understand, internalize, and market to our constituents.
“With these, we can go back to our Senatorial Districts and proclaim to them that “Things are getting better.”
According to him, the policies of the Federal Government have sometimes been misunderstood by some people, but that they are generally designed for long-term benefits.
“But we know that today’s pain shall lead to tomorrow’s gain. Out of the clouds of despair shall come showers of blessing.
“For example, the stock market is said to have jumped to N1.51 trillion as a consequence of the announcement to unify foreign exchange rates. Tax reforms, experts believe, could yield a N20 trillion tax gap in a nation with a tax-to-GDP ratio of 10.86%.
“There are several other benefits of the renewed hope program and the 8-point agenda of the present administration. “These benefits we must know in the course of this retreat. When we do, gather this knowledge, this retreat will lead to a great leap for our country as we would accelerate legislation to renew the hope of our people.”
