Report Of Recession Exit Is A Ploy To Deceive Nigerians Ahead Of 2019 Election-Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has described the report of  exit from economic recession as a deliberate ploy by the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress to deceive Nigerians ahead of the 2019 elections.

Fayose said this while reacting to the report credited to the National Bureau of Statistics to the effect that the country has climbed out of economic recession.

He stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka.

The governor who informed that the reality on ground showed that Nigerians are suffering and dying, with foods and drugs out of their reach, added that no statistics would make meaning to people who could not afford to eat once daily.

According to him, “Claiming that Nigeria is out of economic recession without any corresponding effect on the living condition of the people is just like they said Boko Haram had been defeated and over 400 people were killed by the insurgents in the last five months,”

Fayose also described as funny, Federal Government’s reason for the cancellation of Federal Executive Council meeting that ought to have held on Wednesday. Wondering how a government that declared public holidays forgot that there would be a Tuesday after the public holidays and that the FEC meeting would be held on Wednesday.

“They should look for another lie next week because the reality is that President Muhammadu Buhari does not have the required mental capacity and strength to rule Nigeria, and I maintain that he should consider his health as well as the overall interests of Nigeria and resign,” he added.

Fayose queried the cause for Federal Government’s celebration when the price of foodstuffs like rice had not reduced to N7,000 per bag that it was when Buhari took over power.

He continued: “Is the dollar now N197 to $1? Is petrol now back to N87 per litre that Buhari met in May 2015? Are Nigerians now feeding comfortably, even if it is once in a day?

“Most importantly, are states now getting enough allocation from the Federation Account to be able to meet their obligations, especially payment of salaries?”

He added, “It must be stated that Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which stood at $28.6bn by May 2015 when President Buhari took over power, declined steadily to $23.89bn by the last quarter of 2016. It was in 2016 that Nigeria slipped into recession owing to the bad economic policies and repressive actions of President Buhari.”