Nigeria’s economy still in recession – Peter Obi

The vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Peter Obi, on Friday, said Nigeria’s economy remains in recession.

“We are still in recession, forget anybody that tells you we are out of it,” said Mr Obi speaking at the Zik’s Lecture at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, on Friday.

The economy plunged into recession shortly after the Buhari administration came on board but it later returned to a positive growth trend. But Mr Obi says the economy is still troubled echoing the case of many critics of the government.

Speaking further, he said: “Nigeria has moved from 136 to 148 on the corruption measure index; instead of dealing with corruption, we are merely shouting at it.”

He further noted that corruption kills entrepreneurship, professionalism as well as hard work. In the end, he urged Nigerians to vote in leaders who will help fight corruption.

Meanwhile, the country’s late nationalist leader and first head state, Nnamdi Azikiwe was at the event described as a great African icon whose legacies can be emulated and put into useful practice for unity and emancipation of the black race.

These remarks were made by the Senate President Bukola Saraki while speaking during a courtesy call to the Vice-Chancellor on the occasion of the ZIK Lecture Series on Friday.

Mr Saraki stated that Nnamdi Azikiwe remains a true nationalist whose ideas and philosophy can only be put into practice in a restoration of the dignity of man and the black race. He stated that at this present times, Nigeria as a country can borrow a leaf and live in unity and as well create a level of commonality amongst her citizens.

While welcoming the distinguished guests, UNIZIK VC Joseph Ahaneku said that the event would remain remarkable in the annals of the University as it was the first time the University was having a person in the capacity of the Senate President visiting the University to be part of the annual ZIK lecture.

Also speaking, the guest lecturer, the former president of Tanzania, his Benjamin Mkapa noted that late Azikiwe was a renowned scholar and pan Africanist who fought hard for Nigeria.

Mr Mkapa while buttressing the theme of the occasion “Taming the monster of corruption in Nigeria” pointed out that corruption is deadly in governance as it hinders progress in leadership and regression in the standard of living of the governed.

He also noted that greed is one of the engines that drive corruption which those who seek to govern must dismiss from their minds.

Highlighting the methods of taming corruption, Mr Mkapa pointed out that application of the rule of law, financial obedience, removal of corrupt leaders, declaration of assets to the public as in the case of political leaders and establishment of anti-corruption agencies should be adopted to tame corruption.