The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Shehu
Sani, has warned the Federal Government to put in place short-term
measures to cushion the effect of the current economic crisis on the
Nigerian masses or risk the lives of the people before he completes his
reforms.
Sani, who is representing Kaduna-Central Senatorial District at the Senate, said this in an interview with SUNDAY PUNCH.
The
lawmaker, who criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for not having an
independent economic team to drive Nigerian economy out of recession,
pointed out that many lives would have been lost before the current
reforms are completed.
He said,
“If you happen to be in a
position of power, inasmuch as you want to bring reforms that are
painful, you have to understand the need for you to carry the people
along because if you keep on bringing reforms and continue to unleash
hardship on the people, you may as well say there is a paradise but
people need to be alive to reach that paradise.
“If you
keep reforming and reforming and the people are suffering and dying, you
may reach the Promised Land alone because by that time everyone has
died. Of what use would that be?”
Sani, who is the Deputy
Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, added that the goodwill
the All Progressives Congress enjoyed at the polls, which led to the
emergence of Buhari as president, was waning fast, especially with the
increasing number of open letters on the hardships being suffered by
Nigerians.
He said,
“Let me tell you how it started, which is
general with all persons who just took power in Nigeria. In 1979 and
1999, when a new president assumed office, he would have the support of
all Nigerians. The first stage will be, ‘We support you; we stand by you
and we are going to back you.’
“The second stage will be, ‘We
are advising you.’ The third stage will be, ‘We are cautioning you.’ At
the fourth stage, Nigerians will say, ‘We are warning you.’ The fifth
stage will be, ‘We doubt you.’ The sixth stage, it will be, ‘You are
incompetent.’ The seventh stage will be, ‘You should go.’”
“When
you study these stages, you will see that we have moved behind 100 per
cent support to “advise.” And with letters flying and criticisms
following, it is about “cautioning.” And I think the handwritings are on
the wall for everybody to see.”