Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Sunday
night said that despite the various challenges facing the country, the national
economy will not collapse.The minister, in a statement issued by her Special
Adviser on Communications, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, said this during a chat with
some journalists.
In the statement, she said that the administration of
President Goodluck Jonathan had put in place solid economic legacies for the
incoming government, noting that allegations that the economy was in ruins were
untrue.
She said, “Despite the economic challenges the country is
facing, the Jonathan administration is leaving some solid economic legacies for
the incoming Buhari government. So, the allegations that the economy is in
ruins are absolutely untrue.
“The significant achievements in several sectors attest to
this. We cannot take away the fact that the Jonathan administration, in spite
of the challenges caused by 50 per cent decline in the price of oil, has made a
clear and measurable difference in many important areas and anyone who says
nothing has been done and nothing is being left behind is being very unfair to
facts and to history.
“Attempts to rewrite history will not stand. You cannot just
wipe the slate clean for political reasons. We are not perfect but no one can
take away the fact that we are leaving some good legacies behind.”
The minister also advised politicians and opinion leaders
not to denigrate the economy because negative and false comments on the economy
could have negative impact the economy, the exchange rate, the stock market and
reduce investor confidence.
She said, “These negative and unsubstantiated comments are
not wise because they can lead to what we do not want for the economy.
“ There is nothing wrong with factual assessments of the
economy; I have always told Nigerians the truth about the economy. But sweeping
and negative statements are not in the interest of the country.”
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