Nigeria: Why I Will Not Serve in Buhari's Govt - Okonjo-Iweala

By Charles Kumolu
Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala yesterday said it was better to allow
those managing Nigeria's economy to do the
best they could, noting that there could be
solutions to the present economic decline in the
country.
She also noted that she would not be available
to serve the present administration if overtures
were made to her by President Muhammadu
Buhari, noting that Nigeria boasts of competent
people, who would offer their services when
called upon.
Okonjo-Iweala, who said this while participating
in an Aljazeera programme: The Stream,
regretted that the economic gains recorded in
Africa started eroding a few years ago, noting
that solving macroeconomic question was key
to fixing the continent's economic challenges.
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She specifically said that having a firm control
over the rate of inflation in addition to ensuring
a stable exchange rate should be prioritised by
African governments.
She said: " One of the things you learn as you
get wiser is to talk less as you grow older. I
have spent my time contributing to the country.
It will be better to live those managing the
economy to do what they know how to do.
There can be solutions.
"I am not a typical politician. I went in as a
technocrat. I think on the continent we have
seen a period when the economy was doing
well, in the last two years we have been
experiencing challenges. We need to focus on
the basics which are macro-economics. You
must get the fundamentals like having a stable
exchange rate and having inflation under
control.
"I served my country for seven years and it was
a great honour. The second time was very tough
but it is still an honour. I am not the only
person who is a repository of knowledge. There
are other people who can equally try their hands
in running the economy.
"I will advise young people not to wait for
employment. They should create jobs to employ
six people or more. During my time in
government, we had a programme called You
Win designed to support young entrepreneurs.
The whole idea was to have a business plan
competition. Source All Africa