(By Oluseye Ojo – IBADAN)
Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun has said that what Nigeria needs to recover from the present recession is to develop a sort of Marshal Plan, advising the government not sell national assets as some have recommended.
The Marshall Plan is a historical reference to the European Recovery Programme (ERP), an American initiative to aid Western Europe following the second world war, in which the United States gave over $12 billion (Approximately $120 billion in current dollar value as of June 2016) in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies. The plan was in operation for four years beginning April 8, 1948.
Olanipekun gave the advice in an interview with journalists shortly after the commissioning of the multimillion naira Wole and Lara Olanipekun Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge, which the family built for Ajayi Crowther University in Oyo, Oyo State.
“The Federal Government does not need to sell any of our national assets. Let us first use our brains to manage the economy of Nigeria.”
He stated that “I have a right to insist that Nigeria must be governed properly and I am saying that today Nigeria is not been governed properly. There is a rudderlessness on the part of the government both at the federal, state and local government levels. They are leaving things that they should do undone.”
Olanipekun, who is Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of ACU, also stated: “In a country that wants revival, the leadership of that country will identify those who matter. They will identify people of substance who can give their all, not beggars. In a situation where we are talking about economic recession, who are the people who are managing our economy? What do they know about economy and economies?”
He advised President Buhari to stop blaming past administrations for the economic crises of the nation, but to find a way to manage things as they are more effectively.
“It is not everything about the past governments that is bad. For example, has anyone of us gone back to the archives to scrutinise those General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida appointed as ministers? I believe leadership must not be intimidated by some people in the country; rather call them, use them and tap their brains, tap their resources.”