Fasasi
The outgoing US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic recovery efforts.
Entwistle in a chat with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, also said he saw “parallel between President Buhari and President Obama.
He said: “President Obama had not been in office for very long, but the people had same kind of impatience.
“And I think in my country a lot of people forgot how difficult the situation was, that President Obama inherited. I think the same thing is happening with President Buhari to a certain degree.
“It is completely understandable to me that people have a high expectation, they are impatient, they want to see change.
“But Mr President inherited a very difficult set of circumstances and some of the things that he has identified that need to be done; end corruption; reform the petroleum sector and end the conflict in the North-East.
“These are things that even if he works as hard as he can, it will take some time. I understand people are impatient; the expectations from Mr President are very high.
“I think we have to remember what he inherited. And in my own opinion, we have to be neutral and balanced. I think Mr President and his team have done a good job this first year.’’
He observed that Buhari was doing his best on the economy, adding that, “though I am not an economist, but what he has done with the exchange rate and fuel subsidy and so on, will improve the economy.
“But remember that in this age, no country is an economic island. What affects a country affects the economy of every other country. I gave the President very good marks and let’s see how he marches forward in the next few months.”
Fasasi
