Akin Ezuluka | Buhari’s Administration not Only clueless but purposeless, directionless

The consequences of the economic policies of President Moham­madu Buhari’s administra­tion are said to have worsened the welfare of traders from frying pan to real fire.

The Managing Direc­tor of Castle Kitchen, Mr Akin Ezuluka stated this while speaking in his office along Owerri road, Nnewi, Anambra state.

He pointed out that things were relatively better for the traders in the era of administrations preceding the present government led by President Buhari, which according to him, came on board with so much prom­ises of what the administra­tion would bring to the ta­ble.

“During the campaigns, they brought to us a change agenda which they said would take us to the prom­ised land where people will have opportunity to actual­ize their dreams and poten­tials but the reality today is that this administration has taken the country ten years backward.

“Nigeria was indeed the giant of Africa upto 2015 when the nation’s economy was leading all other Afri­can countries but South Af­rica and other smaller coun­tries have overtaken Nigeria because the present admin­istration is not just clueless but purposeless, direction­less and indeed vision-less.

“We all remember that the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan had a robust economic team com­prising of people who have distinguished themselves in the field of banking, finance and economics not mind­ing their political leanings. But President Buhari has reduced everything to political patronage.

The Ezinifite born busi­nessman said that the rate at which traders are getting frustrated is beginning to affect other sectors like the hospitality sector servicing the Nkwo Nnewi main mar­ket which was bubbling be­fore the present administra­tion came on board.

“This administration has peculiar problems in the sense that there is great inflation in the economy which automatically reduc­es the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians. The sit­uation is made worse by low level of cash in circulation. If things continue this way, I bet you, many people will have to close their shops.

“This administration is pretending to be fight­ing corruption but their ap­proach toward the war is even corrupt. How can one explain the reason behind the administration’s ges­ture of giving those going on pilgrimage to Saudi Ara­bia the dollar at official rate of N197 while the manufac­turers who needed the for­eign exchange for produc­tion that gives boost to the economy are left to grapple with the forces of demand and supply.

The MD of Castle Kitch­en said that nations all over the world are diversifying their economies on concrete terms while Nigeria is busy paying lip service to the is­sue.

“This government has been singing it like song that people should embrace agri­culture but what have they done to make the dream of self sufficiency in food pro­duction a reality. I expect that certain level of produc­tion should be reached be­fore they ban importation of items like rice. The policy or lack of clear cut policy from the government of the day is pauperising the people and that is certainly not good for business.

Mr Ezuluka who noted that an hungry man will al­ways be an angry man said that any policy that will not put food on the tables of an average Nigerian should be discouraged, said that it is only when people are well fed that they can then be creative.

“Go round the mar­ket and you will appreciate what I am telling you, this is one of the largest market in West Africa, the growth of the market has led to the large number of financial in­stitutions and other service oriented institutions in the town but since this system­atic frustration of the trad­ers started, especially in Bu­hari’s administration, people are no longer at ease because things had fallen apart at an unexpected rate.

The MD of Castle Kitch­en appealed to President Bu­hari to as a matter urgency reconstitute an economic team made up of competent and qualified personalities to checkmate the rate at which the nation’s economy is nose diving.

“These call has become imperative because the num­ber of people making their living directly and indirect­ly from our markets are so many and if these enterpris­ing ones are pushed out of business then that would spell doom for the nation.