…Urges Govt To Support Downtrodden, Subsidise Agric Inputs
…As Ibadan Boys’ High School Honours Him

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria {SAN} and Professor of Practice at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali, has called on Nigerians to pray for the leaders for God to give them vision to lead the country, adding that today’s pain is the price to pay to set the country right.

Ali made the call while speaking at the reception held in his honour by his alma mater, Ibadan Boys’ High School Old Students Association of 1977 Set at the Oyesina Hall of the school.

The legal icon expressed his joy for being honoured by his classmates who knew him when he was not known. Ali added that being celebrated by his classmates was the highest honour anyone could crave for.

He said the school shaped him and his classmates, recalling that he was 18 when got admission into the school.

Speaking on the state of the nation, the SAN said that it is easier to destroy than to build. He stated that the leaders of the country are in the process of building now. Ali, therefore called Nigerians to see the current pain as the price to pay to set Nigeria right.

His words: “I am going to come from a perspective that many people may not like. You cannot make omelette without breaking eggs. Nothing good comes easy. And from my faith system, there is something Allah says in the Quran that after hardship there will be ease. We must all see these as some prices we have to pay to set our country right. There will be pains; there will be deprivation; there will be lack but let all of us invest hope in this country that it will be better. Let’s continue to support our leaders. Let’s continue to pray for them for God to give them the vision to be able to know and do things that will be beneficial to all of us.

“People should also appreciate that it is easier to destroy than to build. They are in the process of building now; a lot of destruction has taken place in the country, economically, socially and politically. So, let’s try to build together.

“I sympathise and empathise with Nigerians. I know life is very hard and tough now but all of us, if we pay the necessary dues we ought to pay, I believe tomorrow is going to be better for all of us.’’

He also called on the government to subsidise agricultural inputs and support the downtrodden in the country.

He said: “For now, we have been told that in the last regime, we were subsidizing the forex. That is what it means because if you have to use 1.5 billion US Dollar every month to support the Naira. Any country that wants to make progress cannot use subsidies to support consumption. Subsidy is usually used to support production. That is why America and other places subsidize agriculture. That is where the government should go by bringing down the prices of tractors or farm implements or fertilizer, there would be more production. Bring down the prices of those items that will promote industries, let people be able to bring on equipment at a subsidized rate, removing excise and duty towards established factories. That is the way to go. But you cannot continue to subsidize consumption.

“And let me remind all of us that the support for the naira that the Central Bank of Nigeria {CBN}is doing is for people like you and me. It is not for ordinary people. How many villagers buy dollars? Let the government support the downtrodden people in our country.’’

On his part, the Chairman of the 2024 IBHS 1977 AGM, Arc. Ebenezer Olugbenga Ogunbiyi, said: “It is with great delight that I welcome everyone to this auspicious occasion of our 2024 Annual General Meeting along with honouring one of our own, Prof. Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali.

“IBHS 77 set graduated from this school 47 years ago and we give God the glory for the gift of life and the enablement to remember that this is our Source of Education.’’

The principal of the school, Dr. Rasheed Fasasi, lauded Ali’s contribution to the school.