Napata77:
Whenever Peter Obi says in his speeches that he will move Nigeria ''from consumption to production'', everyone cheers, and says ''Yes! This is a real leader! This is what we want!''

But how many of you have actually stopped to examine what he means by this policy, and how he will go about implementing it?

Because the truth is, EVERY country on Earth that shifted dramatically from consumption to production, did so via dictatorial rule. Not through a democratic process. China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Vietnam, Zimbabwe...

There is a reason for this. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get people to voluntarily agree to inconvenience themselves in any way, shape, or form, for the greater good, or for the greater vision.

YOU HAVE TO FORCE THEM.

Now, moving Nigeria ''from consumption to production'' will mean a lot of BIG changes, and I've no idea how he plans to implement them in a democratic dispensation.

- First, money circulation will be tightened. That is the first step in getting people to consume less - by making less money available for them to spend. Essentially by making them poorer. Another way is by making the imported things they currently buy, MUCH more expensive, or banning them entirely, which leads to the next point:

- Drastic cut in imports + higher import tariffs. Now, you simply cannot keep your current importation levels and talk with any seriousness about reducing 'consumption'. You WILL have to ban MANY items we currently import, and impose very high tariffs on other imports, making them more expensive. Because their presence here is the biggest disincentive to local manufacturers, who are 'crowded out' by their cheaper prices wrought by their advantage of Economies of Scale (the more you produce the cheaper it is per unit). The clampdown on imports will hurt Obi's kinsmen more than anyone else, as they dominate the import business. Will they withdraw their support when it hits them?

So what items will be banned? Nobody knows. But it could be stuff that YOU need, or are used to having. It could be smuggled in, but you'll pay three times more, if you're lucky.

- Petrol Subsidies removed. This will cause a sharp increase in inflation, and is one of Obi's most loudly-voiced policies. He says he will cushion the impact by offering vaguely defined 'palliatives' to the poorest Nigerians. Trouble with that is a lot more people are gonna need help when prices TRIPLE, than the 'poorest Nigerians'.

- Salary cuts. A presidential platform based on austerity will likely lead to salary cuts and non-payment (or delayed payment) of salaries and pensions as money supply contracts in the economy. Expect a quadrupling of strikes and industrial action.

- Reduced infrastructure spending. The Obi platform seems unconvinced about the utility of large infrastructure projects. This will create a problem when 'production' commences in earnest and there is no major transport and logistics infrastructure to evacuate finished goods from source to market efficiently and cost-effectively. The inability to evacuate goods will lead to a stalling of productive processes, and factories lying idle. High unemployment will persist, and social discontent will multiply.

- Political turmoil. As the contradictions in his policies became ever more stark and glaring, the Obi government may resort to extra-judicial methods to silence critics and opposition, leading to widespread human rights abuses, unexplained disappearances and assassination of political opponents.

- Intensification of Japa phenomenon. As the economy slides and the political scene deteriorates, more Nigerians will be forced to flee the country in search of greener pastures, with Obi's lofty promises a bitter, discarded nightmare.

Are you done, or there's more gibberish where this came from?

Napata77:


That sounds really good to the ear, but what if say, the Obi administration doubles or triples the tariffs on vehicle imports, to encourage local manufacturers like Innoson and others? Suddenly the cost of Tokunbo cars will skyrocket, and be priced out of the reach of many. Would your personal interest still come second to national interest in that situation?

What if he extends the high tariffs to laptops? Clothes? Shoes? TVs? These are things he will HAVE to do, if he's looking to move us 'from consumption to production.'

so basically we shouldn't try to move from consumption to production because it will inconvenient some yoruba people? Instead we should recruit 50 million youths in the army and feed them agbado and corn?
This is why everyone needs to vote obi to shame people like you that have held Africa down with Myopic reasoning of short-term benefits

satelliteDISH:
Op, by your analysis on consumption to production, you do not mean well for Nigeria.
U are trying to cause an unnecessary panic among the less educated.

If he decides to slash off wardrobe and newspaper allowance of politicians and also stop crude oil theft alone, he would have reduced Nigeria problems by @least 30%.

If he decides to channel this money alone into electricity and education, the economy will gradually starts to pick up beyond your widest imagination.

This is basic Economics 101 that your bulaba balablue party failed with F11 results.

The president doesn't have the power to cut down expenses of the legislators. It wld even be harder for PO cos his party might not have upto 5 politician in the upper and lower chamber.

Am sure you remember that the legislators but some very expensive jeeps for themselves. How come the executive could not stop them?

Let's assume he doesn't have a single unit of whatever. So that means he would be incapable of building any?

The discussion is beyond you.

One thing I know about Peter Obi is that he can Oblige f.ools like you.
Contact him to explain more to you.

Nigerians believe him more than the other 17 candidates.Deal with that.

Svoboda:


Stop all the noise. Peter obi doesn't own a single unit factory but wants to move us from consumption to production, whereas his businesses revolve around importation. He even imports products as simple as ketchup. So, he is going to kill his own interests?
What contradiction? Innoson doesnt have 2 heads.

Bede2u:
so basically we shouldn't try to move from consumption to production because it will inconvenient some yoruba people? Instead we should recruit 50 million youths in the army and feed them agbado and corn?
This is why everyone needs to vote obi to shame people like you that have help Africa down with Myopic reasoning of short-term benefits

So why aren't you accepting Buhari's policies, with their short-term pains, like the border closure and import bans?

Why are you all abusing him because of the short-term pains?

Are you saying we should only 'sacrifice' for the country if it is Obi in power?

Thoughtless emotion.Thoughtless emotion....

Napata77:


So why aren't you accepting Buhari's policies, with their short-term pains, like the border closure and import bans?

Why are you all abusing him because of the short-term pains?

Are you saying we should only 'sacrifice' for the country if it is Obi in power?

not many people, least of all the opposition criticised the border closure. What people doubted was if the northern borders were also closed or if it was just the south.
Don't be a revisionist because you want to make a point you shouldn't be making in the first place

derecho:
Let's assume he doesn't have a single unit of whatever. So that means he would be incapable of building any?

The discussion is beyond you.

One thing I know about Peter Obi is that he can Oblige f.ools like you.
Contact him to explain more to you.

Nigerians believe him more than the other 17 candidates.Deal with that.

Haha!

As usual, with most of you obi supporters, every discussion is bound to descend to a name calling rant.

After feb 25, you'd have reverted to your aggressive anti nigeria stance when results start trickking in and you'd have woken up from your warped illusion of a peter obi victory.

satelliteDISH:
Op, by your analysis on consumption to production, you do not mean well for Nigeria.
U are trying to cause an unnecessary panic among the less educated.

If he decides to slash off wardrobe and newspaper allowance of politicians and also stop crude oil theft alone, he would have reduced Nigeria problems by @least 30%.

If he decides to channel this money alone into electricity and education, the economy will gradually starts to pick up beyond your widest imagination.

This is basic Economics 101 that your bulaba balablue party failed with F11 results.

These ones you are saying is just comestic change. The real change from consumption to production economy is what he just listed up there. You guys don't even know what you are supporting.

Op, while you are right to some extent, you are also short sighted and extreme. Yes, things will be hard for some time but long term solution is what we need now. This failed system we have now came to be because we wanted easy and cheap things. Fuel subsidy has to go. Importation of food especially has to stop. We need money for infrastructure. More people need to be taxed. All this and more need to happen before we can move forward. And it can happen in a democracy, south korea is a prime example.