20th August, 2021
A former Governor of Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to invest the funds being borrowed in profitable ventures to enhance the nation’s socio-economic development.
Obi made the call on Thursday while speaking with newsmen shortly after his courtesy visit to Oyo State Governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, in Ibadan.
He said that debt was not bad when rightly applied and used for investment that would improve the economy.
Obi said what was not appropriate is borrowing consumption.
The former governor said that the economy would have been doing better if funds borrowed had been invested and rightly spent.
Obi, a Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP in 2019 elections), urged the government to use the funds wisely.
According to him, what develops a nation is education, health and things that can pull people out of poverty.
Obi said that more people would be thrown into poverty if the government failed to invest in those things that would improve the economy.
On the newly signed Petroleum Industry Act by President Muhammadu Buhari, he said the law was needed.
“But, the government would have considered the five percent being demanded by the host communities.
“We must learn to care for those who are generating resources for us, whether it is petroleum, VAT or other things.
“We should consider supporting communities or areas where we generate the income we are sharing,” he said.
On the forthcoming Anambra Governorship election, the former governor called for the conduct of a free, fair, and credible election.
He said that votes of the people should count, urging politicians to stop preparing for election as if they were preparing for war.