‘Economy’ll Stabilise when Buhari Starts Implementing 2016 Budget’

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that the harsh economic situation in the country would be abated immediately President Muhammadu Buhari starts implementing the 2016 budget.

This assurance came to the fore as a journalist with Television Continent, Mr. Olufemi Aduloju, formally joined the party, upbraiding governor Ayodele Fayose over what he described as harsh tax policy his administration is implementing in the state.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti at weekend, the APC chairman in Ado Local Government, Hon. Mike Akinleye, said the parlous economic situation in the country was brought about by alleged corruption that characterised the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Akinleye, however, assured Nigerians that the economy would be revamped as soon as president Buhari assents to the 2016 budget and starts implementing it, adding that “that was why the President has decided to scrutinise the budget very well to be able to address critical areas of the economy like employment generation, power, transport and other pivotal sectors”.

Aduloju, former Special Assistant on Media to the ex-chairman of PDP in Ekiti, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, lamented how Fayose had allegedly imposed burdensome taxes on businesses, particularly on students in public and private schools.

Aduloju also accused the governor of awarding contracts to his business associates, political cronies and relation, with intention to swindle the state of its lean resources.
“No student in primary and public schools paid a dime under Kayode Fayemi administration. But today, they pay as much as N1,000 per term even when he is owing workers four months salaries and pensioners seven months.

He commended former governors Niyi Adebayo, Fayemi and Segun Oni for sacrificing individual interest to foster unflagging unity in the party, saying the party is now well positioned to reclaim the state in 2018.