4— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020
vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES 018773962, 08052867058 Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 — 5 POCKET CARTOON CBN POST MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE MEETING MEDIA BRIEFING —From left: Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr Adebisi Sonubi; Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Mrs Aishah Ahmad; Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Mr Godwin Emefi<strong>el</strong>e; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services, Mr Edward Adamu and Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr Kingsley Obiora at the CBN post Monetary Policy Committee meeting media briefing in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikam <strong>S<strong>el</strong>fish</strong> <strong>Northerners</strong> <strong>opposing</strong> <strong>restructuring</strong>, <strong>says</strong> Gov <strong>el</strong>-<strong>Rufai</strong> •Discloses why APC stepped down <strong>restructuring</strong> bill in 2018 •Says APC still committed to <strong>restructuring</strong> •Notes opposition <strong>el</strong>ements don’t represent North •Advocates for state police, state judicial autonomy •It’s game to hoodwink the unwary—AFENIFERE •It’s all part of APC’s lies to Nigerians— OHANAEZE •APC govt not honest with Nigerians — PANDEF By Anayo Okoli, Regional Editor, Southindividual was getting <strong>restructuring</strong> in a for hims<strong>el</strong>f did not apply derogatory way in a East, Dapo Akinrefon, Emmanu<strong>el</strong> Elebeke directly to the entire manner that portrayed & Chioma Onuegbu north. all the northerners as The and its counterpart in backward people. He said: “The way some people present <strong>restructuring</strong> is so LAGOS — Kaduna State Governor and Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Restructuring Committee, Mallam Nasir El-<strong>Rufai</strong>, yesterday took a swipe at <strong>Northerners</strong> opposed to <strong>restructuring</strong> of the country, saying they were doing so for s<strong>el</strong>fish reasons. He also said the draft bill produced on <strong>restructuring</strong> by his committee in January 2018 was stepped down for fear of politicization, ahead of 2019 general <strong>el</strong>ections. However, El-<strong>Rufai</strong>’s comments drew the ire of Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, the South-East, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who described it as a ploy to hoodwink Nigerians. But the governor, who spoke while fi<strong>el</strong>ding questions at a pan<strong>el</strong> discussion at the ongoing 26th Nigerian Economic Summit, NESG, holding at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, pointed out that there was a difference between the position of Northern Elders Forum, NEF, against <strong>restructuring</strong> and northerners as a people. He argued that there were over one hundred million <strong>Northerners</strong> whose interests were at stake, maintaining that whatever advantages an ‘No advantages to the North’ “We have the highest number of out-of-school children. We have the highest poverty rate. We have the lowest JAMB cut-off rate. So, what are the advantages to the North in the current situation? “As governor of Kaduna State, I have had to look at these issues and try to see how I can get the people of my state up on the ladder. I think you need to differentiate the knowledge from a few and the voice of the silent majority,” he said. El-<strong>Rufai</strong>, however, regretted that certain people present insulting and derogatory. We should have an honest conversation on what is working and what is not. We don’t have anything to benefit making derogatory remarks against a particular group of people because of <strong>restructuring</strong>. “If there are northern leaders today by virtue of the fact that I am a governor, I must be there. So, who are these northerners against <strong>restructuring</strong>? Who are they? Who are they speaking for? So, let us have a very honest, u n e m o t i o n a l conversation without looking down on people or insulting them or framing them.” ‘APC still committed to <strong>restructuring</strong>’ El-<strong>Rufai</strong>, who noted that some interested members of his party are making frantic efforts to get the draft bill presented to the National Assembly for consideration before the end of tenure of the present administration, said the ruling party is still committed to <strong>restructuring</strong>. The governor spoke while fi<strong>el</strong>ding questions at a pan<strong>el</strong> discussion at the on-going 26th Nigerian Economic Summit, NESG, holding at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. He explained that the committee made bold recommendations at the time and prepared a draft bill for onward transmission to the National Assembly which every law maker could take up and sponsor as a private bill. According to him, “we do not need executive bill to start action on the draft bill submitted by the committee.” The governor insisted that it was the position of the party and the President to see the draft bill passed into law, assuring that consideration of the bill would soon commence. “The consideration could be done piecemeal as we do not require an omnibus amendment of the constitution to restructure the country,” he said. ‘Violence worse in Northern Kaduna than South’ On insecurity in Southern Kaduna, the governor posited that the violence in Northern Kaduna was more devastating than the insecurity in Southern Kaduna as perceived by the public. He, however, declined to speak in details about the real cause of the violence, promising that he would make hims<strong>el</strong>f available only if a separate session would be arranged to discuss the issue. “Though, the violence in Southern Kaduna has been over-reported, the insecurity in Northern Kaduna — Birnin Gwari, is more than that in Continues on Page 35 By Yinka Latona On Nigeria's second recession in 5 years (2) WITHOUT doubt, t h i s is a trying period for the nation and people at the grassroots have been experiencing recession before now. The FG should support the agric sector, especially agribusiness as w<strong>el</strong>l as SMEs and manufacturing. This would in turn lead to employment generation, food supply and output growth. —Shokoya John, Health Info personn<strong>el</strong> WITH the way things are playing out in Nigeria, with all the ups and downs the economy is going through, it is no surprise that we are in recession. Leadership is everything, without good leadership there won’t be any good planning for the bad days and this year really exposed how urgent this country needs good leadership. —Ayo Afolabi, Analyst IN my opinion, this is the time to cut down on the cost of governance and the bureaucracy across board from the executive, to the legislature and judiciary. There is need to cut all inappropriate spendings and wasteful expenditures. —Mrs Akanni Olufemi, Busineswoman MOST states in the North-West and North-East which produce the bulk of agric produce in Nigeria, have been taken over by terrorists and bandits. That’s why we are currently experiencing food crisis. The Presidency should change the current economic managers or bring in new hands to work with them to rejig and support ongoing efforts. It is clear their best is not good enough. —Yetunde Olanipekun, Secretary I hope we don’t hit third recession with the way things are going. It’s so sad and disappointing that the current administration has not lived up to expectations. However, I sincer<strong>el</strong>y hope and pray that we don’t experience any second wave of COVID-19 to avoid further economic complications. —Adeshina Badmus, Software Engineer Ife<strong>el</strong> so pained. Imagine one of Africa’s leading economies suffering its worst economic crisis twice in just five years and there seems to be no way out anytime soon because of some cabals benefiting from the setback! I kept asking mys<strong>el</strong>f, where have we gone wrong? But as Nigerians, the Giant that we are, all hope is not lost; we’ll sur<strong>el</strong>y survive and rise again. —Sinabio Abraham, Entrepreneur
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