I’ll Create Wealth, Strengthen Naira, Says Udom Emmanuel

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Aspirant, Gov. Udom Emmanuel,  has pledged to create wealth and strengthen naira exchange rate if elected as president of Nigeria.

Emmanuel stated this when he met with PDP caucus of the National Assembly on his presidential ambition.

Emmanuel said that tackling  Nigeria problems does no required rocket science but right leader adopting right policies and decisions.

“ I think we have reached  that point where some of us  needed to stand up and say it is enough.  So that we don’t wake up one day and our money has turned  to a paper; we are almost there, N600 to a dollar.

“Even at the time we were exchanging for N180 we were all screaming. So now at N600, nobody can talk.

“We have a country where even when there is fuel scarcity, we are still paying for subsidies at 10 million liters every day.

“So tell me the  facilities that we  have in Nigeria to deliver 110 million litres of petrol only excluding diesel, kerosene LPFO, Jet A1,  name all those ones.

“Where are the facilities?  Where are the logistics? 110 million liters every day. Even when there is scarcity. Even simple economists will tell you that it is not practicable,” he said.

Emmanuel said that with right leadership, Nigeria has no reason to go through the challenges it is  currently going through.

“The problem we have in Nigeria today is that we don’t have  leaders who can create money. If you don’t  know  how to create money,  you will not know how to run an economy.”

Emmanuel  said that the situation of the country had reached a level where the younger generation who have  the required capacity and integrity should step in to rescue the country.

He said that if they fail to do that the younger generation would ask themselves questions in the future.

Emmanuel, who said that Nigeria needed a leader  who could  create wealth, said he had demonstrated that in Akwa Ibom state by venturing into airlines business.

“Look at the whole of west Africa, Ghana does not have a national air carrier, Nigeria does not have. So, I say no, let me also proof that this thing is not a rocket science.

“You cannot buy one aircraft with your allocation. Your allocation barely meets salaries but I needed to tell Nigerians that you can create money that give you airlines to run around efficiently.”

He said that as at today Ibom Air was being run after by many states and countries, while the state Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities under construction to be completed this year was now at 84 per cent .

He said that many countries were already running after the state to key into the project.

Emmanuel said that he has the capability, integrity and all it required to lead Nigeria from its president economic challenges to prosperity.