Business

‘Dangote, Saraki economic predators taking advantage of recession’

Published

8 years ago

September 23, 2016

'Dangote, Saraki economic predators taking advantage of recession'

Senator Shehu Sani from Kaduna State has said those calling for sale of national assets want to kill and bury Nigeria.

According to him, it was capitalist forces that raped Nigeria to recession. He therefore described all proponents of selling of national assets as “economic predators and profiteers who want to take advantage of the situation in the country.”

Sani stated this in a statement on Friday, condemning the proposal as being against the interest of the nation and argued privatization in Nigeria has not delivered the much anticipated efficiency and services other than enrich a few fronts and their masters.

He said, “There is currently nothing to show for the sale of government houses, (and) firms. The advocates of sale of our collective national asset simply want to dispossess Nigerians and expand their business empire.

“They call themselves private sector and business men; they refused to invest in agriculture, solid minerals or science and technology, they simply want to buy off profitable public asset. There are no captains of industry in Nigeria other than crony businessmen, rent seekers, commission agents who depend on patronage from government.

“The country’s businessmen prefer to buy off ‘ready-made’ oil wells and gas from the Niger Delta, instead of investing funds to find oil and gas in Lake Chad and Benue trough.

“Selling our national asset to stem recession is like selling ones lungs to buy food. Recession should excite innovation and ideas and not justify roguery. …. Nigeria’s poor have always lived under systemic recession and depression and on the edge of extinction.”

He therefore called on Nigerians to resist any move to sell national assets in order to address the present recession in the country.

Aliko Dangote, a business mogul and Africa’s richest man, suggested sale of national assets like Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Joint Ventures to assist the economy out of recession.

Notably, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Godwin Emefiele, Governor of Central Bank all backed Dangote’s suggestion.

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