Sen. Chris Adighije, a former Abia representative at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, says Nigerians have become more creative in their desperate efforts to survive the present economic recession.
Adighije, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said this in an interview with newsmen in Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.
He said, “naturally, people become more ingenious and creative, when faced with challenges of survival.”
He stated that aside from being creative and industrious, Nigerians have also developed positive strategies to overcoming the recession.
According to him, Nigerians have become more circumspect in their spending.
“People have adjusted their lifestyles to meet the current economic reality.
“You will notice that flamboyant lifestyles in the church and among politicians have disappeared.
“People have learnt to live according to their means,” he said.
He further said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had gradually restored discipline among Nigerians.
According to Adighije, “Discipline now guides the way Nigerians do their things and sooner than later our national life will be affected positively.”
“I have always said that the current recession is good for Nigeria. Today, Nigerians have learnt to switch off their electric lights, when they leave their homes.
“Personally, I no longer allow my generator to run all-day long,” he said.
Adighije gave a pass mark to the president in his efforts to take Nigeria out of recession and expressed the hope that the economy would soon experience a turn around.
He called on Nigerians to exercise patience with the president, saying, “Buhari is doing his best under the circumstance he found himself.
“Nigeria was like an empty shell, the inside was already gone, when Buhari took over power from former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The economy was sustained by the artificial price of crude, which stood at over $100 per barrel,” he said.
He regretted that the country failed to leverage on the boom, occasioned by the price of crude, to revitalise the productive sector of the economy.
“The nation’s expenditure was not directed at productive venture; but government engaged in frivolous spending with little or no return,” the former law maker said. (NAN)