Promote locally made products, Ooni urges politicians
By Wilson Adekumola
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has called on the Federal Government and political leaders to patronize local manufacturers as a deliberate means of addressing unemployment and growing the economy.
The revered monarch made the call during a chat with newsmen at his palace in Ile-Ife to mark his eighth anniversary of ascending the Ooni throne.
He said political leaders must begin to patronise local industry in every sector in a bid to generate employment for the teeming populace.
While bemoaning government usage of the dollar as a means of benchmarking the economy, the monarch said it is time for the government to be serious about building a productive economy.
Ooni declared that t is time our leaders ensure that 70 per cent of product they use or consume is made locally. Their fleet of cars should be made up of the likes of Innoson vehicles. Our leaders should lead by example. They should make it a policy for foreign companies to produce 70 per cent of their products in Nigeria, or they cannot get contracts in the country.
“Lawmakers and the executive should start using local products. I am a good example of a local content user; my attire is 75 per cent made in Nigeria. How many of our leaders wear made-in-Nigeria products?
“How many of their cars are made or assembled in Nigeria? My cap is made in Ife, Osun State; my overall was made in Iseyin, Oyo State; my beads are made in Edo and Ife; my shoes are made in Aba, Abia State; and my clothing is made in Kano State.
“Our lawmakers should start wearing clothes made in Nigeria to build the economy and stop using the dollar as the benchmark for everything; that is the best way to reduce the dollar pressure on our economy; that is the way to provide jobs for the youths and make our economy very productive and vibrant,” he said.
The royal father further criticized the financial institution in the country for its attempt to kill Innosson Motors, which is a source of pride for the country, praising everyone who stood by the organisation.
Oba Ogunwusi equally enjoined lawmakers to promulgate a law that will ensure that political officeholders show patriotism by buying and using a made-in-Nigeria product.
The traditional ruler added, “Our leaders and lawmakers should begin to grade themselves; they should be using 70 per cent of made-in-Nigeria products; if you can’t do that, then don’t sit in the chamber to make laws for us. May God not let us witness the consequences of frustrated Nigerian youths.”
