Gowon advises Buhari: Fix Nigeria's economy now

A former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the  economic and other problems ravaging Nigeria.

Gowon said this in a chat with journalists on the sidelines of the Free Health Caravan for hepatitis test and vaccination organised under the auspices of SHEAM Health Care Foundation at the  Ooni Palace in Ile Ife, Osun State on Wednesday

He said the Federal Government should do everything possible to find lasting solutions to  the numerous problems confronting Nigeria in order to boost the citizens' confidence said,  'Let the current authority find a way out of the current economic crisis. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has been telling us what they have been doing to get the economy strong again. She said all will be well by September. Let's wait till then.

'I have left government for a long time, so I may not really know what the problem is. The current administration should do whatever they can to solve the economic challenge. They should find a way to restore confidence in citizens and the nation at large by fixing the economy.'

Gowon expressed shock at the allegations of budget padding, saying nobody made any attempt to pad budget during his time.

He also urged those involved to stop that in the interest of the nation.

'If that is true, if anybody is doing that, the person should be checked and stopped to ensure that such does not occur in the future.

'We didn't do it during my time. We had the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in charge of our finance during my time and he taught us how to survive without borrowing. Such (budget paddling) should stop, there is no point doing that,' he added. - Punch.