The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie Oyegun said today that outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan is bequeathing a huge financial burden of N4.1 trillion for Muhammadu Buhari to clear in his first day in office.
“From the first day of this government, a total of 4.1 trillion Naira will be required for sundry expenses, including oil subsidy payment, arrears of salaries at federal and state levels and debt servicing, just to mention a few”, Oyegun told a meeting of elected senators of the party in Abuja.
Chief Oyegun in his speech which was aptly titled, Extraordinary Times require extra-ordinary action’, immediately added that in highlighting the financial burden the party would inherit, he was not making excuses or making lamentations. He was merely laying bare the ‘the enormity of the challenges ahead’.
“Put this against the background of the falling oil prices, the unprecedented 60-billion-dollar debt which the outgoing government has left for the incoming one, the largely depleted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the 60 billion dollars that have been lost in the last four years to crude oil theft (and which are perhaps still being lost as we speak), the need to rapidly create jobs for our teeming army of unemployed youths, enhance the security of the citizenry and improve the economy, and you will begin to understand the enormity of the challenges ahead”, he said.
The meeting in Abuja was the first time senators elected under the party’s platform
would meet with the leaders of the party since the general elections.
He urged the senators to rise to the spirit of the times as they ” are being called to service at one of the most challenging periods in the history of our nation”.
“Unparalleled commitment, uncommon patriotism, unprecedented hard work and indeed a reservoir of your innermost strength will be required, as our party takes the centre stage in the next few days and begins to implement its programmes for the benefit of the long suffering people. Make no mistake about it, the days ahead will be tough, and this is not crying wolf,” he emphasised.
He spoke about the huge expectations of Nigerian people, but cautioned that the expected changes would not occur overnight.
“You, our Senators-elect, will be called upon to take extraordinary actions to address the extraordinary challenges that confront our nation. The incoming President, more than anyone else, needs the support and cooperation of the 8th National Assembly to fulfill his campaign promise to Nigerians.
“You may be required to pass important bills at very short notices. This will not be unprecedented but will require a buy-in to the programmes of the President and the Party and a willingness to work with him and the party for the benefit of all Nigerians. The demands on you will be tasking, but you are up to the task!
“Fortunately we have the numbers, even though we believe that a bipartisan effort – to which we are open – will be a better deal
“And there is good news! You, our Senators-elect, share in the dreams of the President and our party to make our country great again.”