By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Following concerns raised in some quarters about the free fall of the naira recently, a chieftain of Labour party, Tim Ogwuru has assured Nigerians that the local manufacturing master plan which the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi will introduce after his successful election will end foreign exchange scarcity and balance the nation’s international trade.
Social media influencer and Media aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri had in his facebook handle said that Obi is one of the biggest importers in the country and cannot turn the country from a consuming to manufacturing economy.
Questioning the sincerity of Obi’s agenda, Omokri said, “Peter Obi, one the biggest importers of foreign goods for resale in Nigeria is promising to move Nigeria from consumption to production”.
However Ogwuru while speaking to our reporter on Wednesday after a meeting of party stakeholders said that Obi is not claiming to bring the importation bill of the country to zero as every country imports one or two items from places of comparative advantage but will reduce the import bill of the country and activate the manufacturing sector.
The labour party chieftain accused Omokri of being economical with the truth, reminding him that Obi is the brain behind Intafact Beverages Limited a beverage manufacturing giant based in Aanambra state where SABMiller made an initial investment of over US$100m in 2012.
He said, “Obi is saying that we have to reduce our import bills so that we can be able to have more foreign reserves in our kitty. He is also saying that we have to produce more and when we produce more and import less, you create jobs and make the economy stronger and more viable. When industries make more money, they will reinvest it in the local economy which will in-turn create more opportunities for the young people”.
He reminded the Social Media influencer that the old political structure punctuated by primitive embezzlement of public resources, massive looting and unaccountability is no longer fashionable. He said that Nigerians have resolved to take back their country through Obi and create a new political structure different to what Omokri is used to.
“The structure, the old political order is talking about is structure of looting the economy, structure of people in public office living above their means and the money to sustain the ostentatious life style comes from the public purse.
“The real structure is the people, the legacies left by one who has been in public office, tested with integrity and character. Structure is when students are not at home wasting away while they should be at the university. Structure is when government signs an agreement with ASUU, it keeps its own side of the bargain.
“Structure is controlling and maintaining the economy and making sure that it is on the right pedestal. Structure is getting inflation rate to be within an acceptable bracket. Structure is ensuring that people occupying public offices are not reckless with public fund or living above their means, they are not using public fund as if it is privately owned.
“Structure is about creating public institutions that will stand the test of time so that even when you leave office, the institutions will be independent in service delivery.
“Structure is when you go to the hospitals, you see doctors and nurses to attend to you and not all of them leaving in droves”.
According to Ogwuru, Nigerians are enamored with the message of the Labour Party’s Presidential candidate explaining that Nigerian youths have demonstrated that support by volunteering themselves as the structure that Obi will use win the next Presidential election in 2023.
