A former Chief of Staff to Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has urged the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu to adjust policies that are not working in the interest of the people.
According to Gambari, some other countries did not go through as much hardship as Nigerians are experiencing at the moment before riots broke out gainst the government.
He warned that the federal government of Nigeria must not wait until there’s a revolution in the land before adjusting policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that are not favourable to the people.
The diplomat argued that the institutions are partners of the country and should not ultimately determine how things are run.
“Ultimately, what’s the value of the policies that the people do not support?”
“The IMF and the World Bank are partners and this is our country. Therefore, if there is a policy they are advocating or they advised, and we find that it is not working, we should have the freedom to adjust it because our primary responsibility and of the government is to the people of this country,” the elder statesman said on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
Gambari said the Nigerian government is lucky because citizens of the country do not make much demands.
He added that it is the responsibility of every government to take the destiny of the people in its hands.
“We’ve been very lucky because Nigerians don’t demand very much. That’s why they go about their business. That’s why it has never been a pressure.
“There are countries like Sudan where the price of bread rose by 20% and there were riots, and a governor was overthrown. But in Nigeria, the people adjust but there may be a breaking point. We don’t want to wait till a revolution takes over before (we take action),” he said.
The diplomat noted that as much as Nigeria is part of the international community, the IMF and World Bank are not responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government, noting that managing the economy is the responsibility of the leaders.
He said, “Having worked in the United Nations for 13 years, and served my country at the United Nations for 10 years, I am saying that the leadership of every country has to take their destiny into their hands.
“Yes, we are part of the international community. Yes, we are part of the IMF and World Bank because we are part of the international system, but we must be able to adjust the advice of the IMF to our own needs. Our primary responsibility is to Nigeria. We are not responsible and we will not be held responsible for what the IMF does.
“Yes, we value them. They are development partners but this is our country. It is the only country we have. Nigeria is the only country we can call our own and we have to salvage it together.”
“Any president of Nigeria must make security number one because there can be no development without peace…The contribution every president can make to Nigeria is to secure this country. And then promote the framework to release the energy of our people so that they can master their affairs in terms of economy.”
News360 Info reports Gambari spoke against the background of the fuel subsidy removal and floating of the naira, which were implemented by the Tinubu government and the attendant increase in living costs in the country.
