A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gbenga Hashim-Olawepo, has asserted that what happened to Nigeria’s economy during the 10 years of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government was tragic.
Hashim-Olawepo, a Former presidential aspirant, made the remark on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.
According to him, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was larger 20 years ago, when former President, Olusegun Obasanjo was leaving office.
Hashim-Olawepo stated that Nigeria was the leading economy in Africa when former President Goodluck Jonathan handed over to the APC government led by Muhammadu Buhari.
The PDP chieftain emphasised that the country’s economy is currently struggling between fourth and fifth place, calling the situation a disaster.
He said, “The GDP of Nigeria Today is between 220 billion to 230 billion. That’s according to the International Monetary Fund, IMF/World Bank outlook.
“20 years ago under former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s GDP, when he was finishing in 2007 was 268 billion, bigger than now.
“This disaster happened under the APC. When Goodluck Jonathan handed over power, Nigeria’s GDP had risen to 574 billion and we were the largest economy in Africa. Today we are fourth of fifth.
“What has happened in ten years of APC government to the economy is a disaster and tragic.”