Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has expressed optimism that the Buhari administration will lead the nation out of recession into prosperity.
Bello made this call at the Youth for Democracy Forum, Osogbo where he was represented by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo.
He opined that the 2017 Budget of the Federal Government is a “masterstroke against recession”, saying the nation will witness “unprecedented development in 2017”.
“The corruption of the past and the mono-product economy were the reasons why the nation slipped into recession. President Muhammadu Buhari has come out strongly with the 2017 Budget to improve infrastructure, education and also diversify the economy. These measures will help us grow our economy and regain our place on the African continent as a major economic player.
“The people of Kogi State have never lost faith in the President and his team to rebound the economy of Nigeria and bring us back into imperious prosperity. Our hope in the Change Agenda has never waned.
“The entire nation is behind the President to succeed. The international community has an iron-cast in the integrity and credibility of the President to lead the nation into recovery.
“The fact that America went into recession shows that any nation can go through desperate economic situations. Every Nigerian must rally round our leaders and contribute to the greatness of Nigeria”.
The Governor said Kogi State is leading the diversification plans of the Federal Government, assuring that Agriculture will get a boost in the State under his administration. He said plans are in place to make Kogi State a global force in rice and cassava production as well as Jathropha in order to benefit from the United Nations Carbon Credit Fund.
“As a nation, agriculture is the answer to our economic revival. Nigeria is blessed with arable land that can make us one of the biggest global food producers. Kogi is determined to show a good leadership in agro-business.
“Kogi State is also embarking on massive Tourism development to generate revenue and attract people to the State. We must start to look away from oil as the sole generator of our revenue as a nation”.
The Governor urged the youth across the country to contribute to wealth creation instead of criminality, saying his performance in Kogi State will open more doors to the youth to be saddled with positions of responsibility in governance.
