- By Halimah Olamide
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has asked the Federal Government to stop being rascally about sealing up businesses in the guise of enforcing regulations.
Obi stated this against the backdrop of the re-opening of a popular Abuja store, Sahad Stores which was closed last week over alleged price manipulations.
The Federal Consumer Competition and Protection Commission (FCCPC) had sealed the store on Thursday but opened it later in the evening after it said it has reached agreement with the management of the popular store.
Obi, in his reaction, said government agencies could afford to be less rascally in their approaches.
“The closure was not a well-thought-out option in the first place. Going forward, I would like to again, advise the government to avoid any further show of rascally behaviour that brings more pain to the people,” Obi said
He added that the earlier sealing off of the business, just like pulling down people’s houses, and many uncaring and insensitive actions of the government, are not what we need as a nation, at this time of extreme difficulties in the land.
“The government should rather focus on saving the nation from further collapse and on building the economy, rather than engaging in rascal actions that portray the administration as heartless and thoughtless to the litany of challenges facing the Nigerian people.
“More people are being thrown into unemployment and poverty, with unemployment rate soaring higher than ever before. Should we then be taking actions that will undermine the existence of the few remaining businesses we have and throw more people into unemployment?” he said
He said Nigerians are looking up to the government, in keeping with their many promises of building a better economy, to provide pragmatic solutions to the burning issues of galloping inflation, rising hunger, widespread poverty, and insecurity.
“The many outcries by citizens in different states over the rising cost of living, should nudge the government into visible actions that will ameliorate the pains of the people. Closing down existing businesses over alleged offences, I believe, is not the solution to our economic challenges.
“In a productive economy with abundant supply of goods and services, issues like hoarding of products and disparity in prices, as was being discussed, would have no place. This is because, through healthy competition, market forces would adjust prices accordingly. Instead of focusing on fixing prices, the government can focus on building a productive economy that will ensure adequate production of goods and services.” he stated