APC underestimated the damage in Nigeria before we promise CHANGE — Senator Na’allah

Senate Deputy Leader, Bala Ibn Na’allah, in this interview with Daily Trust, speaks on the Nigerian economic challenges, among other issues. Excerpts:

As a senator from the ruling party, there seems to be an outcry that things don’t seem to be going too well in respect of the economy. What is the way out?
I am a Nigerian first before becoming a senator and therefore, if it worries Nigerians, I should equally be worried. But, the thing is that I don’t have the authority to speak on behalf of my party. It is equally true that I don’t have the authority to speak on behalf of the Senate. But, as a citizen and as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the perspective I have seen things, it is obvious that the APC led federal government underestimated the damage that was done to the country when they offered themselves to provide the change Nigerians required. Therefore, it is expected that lots of things would not work so easily; Nigerians would not see certain things in the perspective from which they were.

The important thing is that the problems were not created by the APC-led federal government, they were created by Nigerians themselves for failing to act when there was the need to act. Therefore, the cleaning process must definitely be painful. 

It may not be understood by all, but the important thing is that based on the promise of the party to reposition the country and save it from its past, certain decisions that are painful must be taken. That explains why, of course, there will be hues and cries all over the place. It is expected, I do not see any reason why anybody should expect less than that. 

Again, I am aware the government is making effort to do whatever is humanly possible to reduce those sufferings. But, again, government has to act within the constitution, law and machinery of governance and the established norms of doing things in government.