Tinubu not to blame for widespread economic hardship in Nigeria – Umahi

• He asserted that the cumulative actions and inactions of previous governments were responsible for the parlous state of the nation

Minister of works, David Umahi, has absolved president Bola Tinubu administration of the present economic hardship Nigerians are grappling with.

He asserted that the cumulative actions and inactions of previous governments were responsible for the parlous state of the nation.

Umahi made the assertion on Sunday at his hometown Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi while addressing journalists.

He noted that previous administrations didn’t check farmers and herders conflicts among other forms of insecurity which adversely affected food production.

“I was the Chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC) committee on resolving farmers and herders conflicts and I settled such conflicts in several states, especially in the north.

“Such settlements yielded fruits but the problem had dealt a lot of blow on food production with farmers prevented from going to their farms.”

Umahi noted that with such underlying developments, no one should expect Mr Tinubu’s administration to fix such challenges within nine months.

“It is not possible to solve the problems within such period in office and we should ask ourselves how to solve them.

“President Tinubu is fortunately tackling the problems with his policies and when something has gotten to the climax, you don’t expect to dissolve it over night,” he said.

He noted that the south-east geo-political zone for instance no longer grapples with incessant farmers and herders conflict, showing that Mr Tinubu had solved its major problem.

“That is why we should not join the protests on economic hardship because if you remove the gunmen issue, the zone will be safe and farmers can work,” he said.

Umahi also hailed Tinubu for ordering cement manufacturers to revert to the old prices of the product in further ameliorate effects of the hardship, describing the president as a compassionate leader.

“The president is a compassionate leader who feels the sufferings of his people and we expect the manufacturers to comply with the presidential directive.

“I also commend my successor Gov. Francis Nwifuru for taking proactive steps to revive the Nigeria Cement (NIGERCEM) Company, Nkalagu as it should not continue being moribund.”

(NAN)