A mixture of relief and raging
indignation swept through the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
yesterday, after former President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly tore his
membership card of the ruling party.
Obasanjo’s theatrical renunciation of
the party on whose platform he was twice elected president, was laced with
another drama hours later when the state chapter of the party announced his
expulsion from the party.
In three tweets, last night, Obasanjo
gave as his reasons, his uneasiness in abiding in the same party with a
president who he said was determined to use corruption to destroy the country.
He also said he would not abide in a party that is led by a ‘drug baron’,
saying his action had freed him to comment on national issues as he felt.
The subdued relief in the Presidency
which has been the butt of Obasanjo’s stinging criticism in recent times was
manifest, yesterday, when senior Presidency officials calmly referred responses
to the development to party officials. Chief Tony Anenih, Chairman of the Board
of Trustees and once Obasanjo’s trusted aide, led the reactions with his dismissal
of the action, saying the party would not miss him.
A number of other party officials
including members of the board of trustees, state officials in Ogun State,
Governor Ayo Fayose, Chief Buruji Kashamu among others reacted to the
development yesterday.
President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone said Monday that the
country stands to lose about $920 million in 2015 as a result of the impact of
Ebola.
Koroma was addressing a private sector development round table on
post Ebola in Freetown during which he enumerated how Ebola has paralyzed the
economy.
The round table was organised by the Ministry of Transport
together with Sierra Leone Industrial Export Promotion Authority (SLIEPA).
He said Ebola had affected all sectors of the economy including
agriculture, mining, tourism as well as the manufacturing industry.
He also said that the private sector had not been spared by the
Ebola crisis.
Bai Koroma said the manufacturing sector contracted by 2.0 per
cent from a projected growth of 10 per cent, while the transport industry fell
to 0.1 per cent in 2014.
He said that the tourism sector recorded a considerable decline to
about 30% from May to September 2014.
He said financial activities were disrupted with normal banking
hours reduced with community banks and Financial Service Associations (FSA)
closed down.
Bai Koroma said it was unfortunate that the mining sector, which
has been the “prime mover of growth” also had its challenges.
“Most of the mining companies, such as African Minerals that
supported the economy had to temporarily close down.
“Its effect has negatively wrecked the economy thereby bringing
the country almost to a standstill,” said the President.
He urged the participants at the meeting, including donors and the
international community that “it is imperative
that we defeat Ebola to stop the paralysis of the economy by Ebola.”
He said that “we must not allow Ebola to continue to paralyze the country’s action
for economic growth, investment, job creation as well as sustainable returns
for the private sector.”
Bai Koroma seized the opportunity to comment on the Auditor
General’s report on the management of the Ebola funds.
He said that he has received it and forward it to Parliament for
deliberation and ultimate recommendations as stipulated in the constitution.
He recalled that during his countrywide social mobilisation tour
during which he called for judicious use of the funds.
Bai Koroma said that he realized that “most had not lived to up to
expectation” but warned that action will be taken against those the report
found wanted.
He, however, called on the international community to also
investigate those international NGOs that collected monies meant for the
management of Ebola.
He reminded the private sector that it had a key role to play in
restoring the country’s economy.
Photo
Credit: Getty Images
New
Culled: BellaNaija
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