Former APC National Chairman, Akande, Decries Lust For Foreign Products, Says It’s Foundation Of Underdevelopment

By Ayodele Oni

Founding national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has identified lust of Nigerians for foreign goods as one of the foundations of the country’s economic problems.

Chief Akande made the remark at a Public Service Lecture, organized by the University of Ibadan, (UI)Alumni Association, Ondo State Branch, in Commemoration of 97th birthday of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti’s 97th birthday in Akure.

“Every member of this audience has a telephone set. Some people may even have two or three. If you look outside, you will see the latest cars manufactured in Europe, Asia and America.

“Most of us are wearing dresses made in other countries, especially in Europe and Asia. Some of our women are wearing discarded hair from Asian or South American women.

“We love foreign wine and foreign cuisine. Yet, we complain. We fail to plan and, yet, we are surprised that we fail in almost all sectors as we are all lapsing into generations of plan-less hypocrites.  I can assure you, that was not what we inherited.

“In this same country, we used to have Five Years Capital Development Plan and Seven Years Capital Development Plans. Now we only plan for the immediate next election!

“We cannot be in love with the products of modernity like cars, telephones and air travels while we continue to live in dreadful underdevelopment.

“But presently, to our collective shame, almost all the cars on Nigerian roads are imported. We import foods, wines, spirits, clothings, perfume, body sprays, toothpick and toiletries and then turn around to complain that the Naira is not strong.

“Let us, as followers, make the Naira strong by changing our ways. Let us learn to make our own cars, produce our own food, drink our own wine and wear our own cloths because those individuals, corporate entities or countries, who think deep daily, plan meticulously and work assiduously towards the realization of their plans would continue to devise all means to confuse, exploit and enslave the lazy, fun=loving and plan-less pleasure seekers.”

The first civilian Governor of Osun state assured Nigerians that they would not regret electing Bola Tinubu as their president, assuring that he will perform.

“We thank God that this time around; Nigerians have elected a leader who has planned for a long time to be our President.

“Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu is a well-known person to Baba Fasoranti and he is also an inheritor of the Awoist legacy of planning and integrity.

“When Tinubu was Governor of Lagos State, he did not just plan for his eight years in office; he did a Master Plan for Lagos State which has since been running for more than the past 20 years and which has transformed the city-state into the powerhouse of the Nigerian economy.

“Therefore, it is right and necessary to expect a 20 or 50 Years Master Plan for Nigeria from President Tinubu which would transform this blessed country into a great one.”

Speaking about the celebrant, Akande said “When Chief Fasoranti was admitted into the University of Ibadan in 1948, his dream, like the dreams of many of his compeers, was to be the best he could be and to serve the society to the best of his ability.

“His generation believes in discipline in both private and public life. Therefore, when we were growing up, especially when we were entering politics, members of my generation also look at Baba Fasonranti’s generation as our role models.

“I am talking, of course, about our leaders – the Immortals like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Chief Alfred Rewane, Alhaj L. K. Jakande, Chief Bisi Onabanjo and Chief Bola Ige.

“For those our leaders, service was the main essence of leadership and no living one exemplifies this more than the hero we are honouring today.”