Aare ona kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, yesterday, flayed President Bola Tinubu, saying Nigerians were totally disappointed in his administration and urged him to quickly put things in order.
In an open letter addressed to Mr President, entitled: ‘State of the Nation’ the national coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), bluntly tells Mr President that his supporters before and during the 2023 presidential campaigns are disappointed, considering the economic hardships.
The letter reads: “When you came with the ‘Emilokan’ coinage in the build up to the 2023 elections, many Nigerians were persuaded that as a democrat exposed to modern way of governance, you will perform better than erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari, a soldier who deepened the poverty levels of Nigerians and increased insecurity from 2015 to 2023.
“Today, events have proved that they were wrong. Mr President, to say the truth without minding whose ox is gored, you have really disappointed many Nigerians, who thought you were the messiah they were waiting for. The facts are there to speak for themselves.”
The Aare ona kakanfo added that on May 29, 2023, when Mr Tinubu became the President, “the price of a litre of fuel was less then N200. Today, it is more than N1000. As the Minister of Petroleum, I ask you, what type of reforms is this? In May 2023, naira to a dollar was less than N740. Today, it is more than N1,600.
“Now, your two right-hand men when you were the governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Wale Edun (Finance Minister) and Yemi Cardoso (CBN Governor) are in charge of the economy. What exactly are the fiscal, economic and financial briefings they give you daily to convince you that they know what they are doing in those two offices?
“When Buhari left on May 29, 2023, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that insecurity would soon become history. Pitiably today, from the North to the South, East to the West, the rate at which Nigerians are being abducted and some killed, even after ransom was paid, has increased as if these blood-thirsty maniacs have just been unleashed on Nigerians from the hottest part of hell.”
He wondered what type of briefing Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, is getting on the rising spate of insecurity across the country from his security chiefs, especially from the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, and others.
“In August, many Nigerians came out to express their frustration on the way you are governing them.
“Today, some of those arrested have been charged with treason. In the comity of nations. Who does that? Is that the way governments are overthrown, with placards?
“Human rights activists are being harassed by security agents on a daily basis and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have become soft targets of sycophants, who speak sweet words to your ears for selfish reasons.
“Many Nigerians know the ‘radical’ role you played when you were a governor, and even after 2007, when you galvanised and mobilised them to challenge the status quo at the national level.
“Now that you are in government, protest has suddenly become a criminal offence. God is indeed great!!!
The plain truth, according to him, is that the recent fuel price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), is an attack on Nigerians.
He told the President his administration was becoming indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plights of millions of Nigerians, who could no longer meet their daily needs.
“Today, more than 75 per cent of Nigerians have sunk below the poverty line. Businesses are collapsing like a badly-arranged pack of cards and the centre can no longer hold in many households.
“With over 32 per cent inflation rate and close to 40 per cent unemployment rate, which are expected to rise further with the latest dictatorial increase in fuel price, it is obvious that your administration offers no hope to Nigerians.” (Guardian)
