The Centre for Anti-Corruption
and Open Leadership, CACOL, has criticized former president Olusegun Obasanjo
for attacking President Muhammadu Buhari over his decision not to assent to the
African Continental Free Trade Agreement, for which a signing session was
recently held in Kigali.
Nigeria along with ten other
nations refused to consent to the Agreement while about forty-four other
countries signed it.
Olawale Omotaje, CACOL Media
Coordinator, recalled that the NLC and MAN had expressed fear that the
agreement would negatively slow down the pace of the nation’s industrial
take-off and turn the country into a dumping ground for other nations’
industrial products.
A statement on Thursday by the
body wondered why Obasanjo would be urging the President to reverse himself and
sign the Agreement before it would be too late for the country.
“This dooms day alarm is just
characteristic of the former President whenever he is on prowl to implement
errands for his various overlords across the globe,” the group said.
“CACOL, on the contrary ask Mr.
President to remain resolute on his decision and should not be cowed by forces
that are intent at controlling Nigeria’s huge market without given
considerations for bad consequences to the country.
“Nigeria is not just contending
with economic stagnation but has been consciously de-industrialised by policies
imposed by neo-liberal organisations like WTO and ACFTA that advocates trade
liberalization policies. Many industries in the country folded up and relocated
to neighbouring countries because of lack of relevant infrastructural
facilities.
“A vintage example of how these
platforms manipulate member-states was the smuggling of the “ rule of origin”
clause snare. This requires that when an African country that is cover by the
Agreement sell some products in the Nigeria for example, the attendant tariffs
would go to the originating country.
“Therefore, a member state like
Burundi can get cheap products from China or Europe and, package same in its
name and bring to Nigeria without any hindrances. This does not only rob the
country of potential revenues but would be harmful to the nation’s industries
and economic plans.
“We urge all Nigerians to stand
behind Mr. President in rejecting this harmful Agreement to sell the country
into second slavery and retard our industrial development in perpetuity.”
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