Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on Nigerians to stop squandering the nation's commonwealth and be prepared to make sacrifices in 2016.
Obasanjo, in his Christmas message after a church service on Friday, admitted that the country's resources had been squandered by its leaders in the past, saying that it was time for everyone to adjust to the reality of the current economic gloom.
According to a report by The Cable, the former President said, "We have had downs in our economy before, we have risen up again. We have made money; we have squandered it. If we are sensible at all, there must be an end to squandering."
Obasanjo, who noted that the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration had warned Nigerians about the poor economic situation in the country, however, called on the government to do more by leading by example.
He said, "I still believe that there are still areas of government that are not serious enough to make us feel that what is being said is something that would concern all of us. It would be very difficult for the people of this country to see that certain arms of government are living in luxury, while the government is asking the ordinary people to continue to make sacrifice.
"I believe that all arms of governments and the private sector should realise that if we are going to shorten the time of this hardship, if we are going to have any cushioning effects for the ordinary people, then there would have to be sacrifices made by those who have to make more sacrifice."
The Central Bank of Nigeria's monetary policy committee had hinted at a period of recession in 2016, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had said there would be a change in the pump price of petrol.
The National Electricity Regulation Commission had also said Nigerians would have to pay more for electricity from February 2016. The president had given an assurance that over time, all these would get better for the good of "ordinary Nigerians."
PUNCH.
