By Ola Ajayi

Ibadan—FORMER Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to shift on his stance against devaluation of the Naira, noting that he should seek the expertise of a team economic analysts on the nation’s economic crisis.

Anyaoku

This came just as he lamented that the government always expended more than half of its budget on a non-productive sector of the economy.

He said these in Ibadan yesterday at the presentation of the  memoir of Ambassador Olu Sanusi.

The memoir which was entitled, “Audacity on the bound; a diplomatic odyssey” was well attended by eminent Nigerians.

Anyaokwu, who was the chairman of the occasion said, “A case has not been convincingly made that the devaluation of our naira in our present circumstance will truly serve Nigeria’s national interest. President Muhammadu Buhari should, in my view, stick to his anti-devaluation position but he should also urgently appoint a team of knowledgeable expert economists to advise him on how to approach Nigeria’s current economic crisis” .

Among those who attended an epoch-making event include a former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gown, Gen Oluwole Rotimi (rtd), Dr Omololu Olunloyo, former Governor of Oyo State, Bashorun Kola Daisi, an industrialist, Chief Bayo Akande, Chief Nike Akande and Pastor Olubi Johnson .

Also in attendance were a renowned economist, Philip Asiodu, Dr Lekan Are, Ambassador Akporode Clark, Dr. Kase Lawal and traditional rulers including the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, who was represented by Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed among others.

Chief Anyaoku said the parliamentary system that Nigeria’s nationalists designed did not allow corruption as such.

He maintained that politicians had capitalised on the presidential system to engage in massive corruption.

On the memoir, he said; “ This memoir is an instructive material for the coming and future generations of Nigeria which is good for institutional development.”

“This memoir is not all about his diplomatic service but gives a glimpse about a legacy of devotion that in every man and woman’s life rare success comes from hardwork and integrity.”

His brilliance was not unexpected because he had educational background in two f the world’s best institutions. His intellectual background was certainly one of the reasons for the outstanding success of his diplomatic policies.

In his remarks, the author of the book, Ambassador Saanu said, “I must thank Gen. Gowon for giving me the platform to serve my country as an ambassador to Ethopia during the civil war. We owe Gen. Gowon a lot as a country who, during his tenure, many nations believed in him and then partnered with us.”

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon in his address, said he believed that the book would help the nation in building strong diplomatic standard and also help upcoming diplomats.

The highpoint of the event was the formal book launch by the chief launcher, Dr Kase Lawal who launched the book with a reasonable amount of money.