The Pan-Yoruba Socio-political group, Afenifere, has said that the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration should be blamed for the present economic hardship being faced by Nigerians and not President Bola Tinubu.
A statement signed by the groups Publicity and Organising
Secretaries, Jare Ajayi and Kole Omololu, said that the immediate past
administration, dug political and economic holes for the administration of his
successor, Bola Tinubu.
Afenifere said that the Buhari’s administration “did not make
provision for oil subsidies in last year’s budget which made Tinubu cancel the
regime of oil subsidies in his inaugural speech.
It added that the “economic downturn was caused by Buhari’s
administration which was built on a platform of hope and a defective federalism
saying promises made were not fulfilled.
The group said that “Under Buhari’s watch, terrorists and
banditry were operating effortlessly. Law and order broke down.
“Many innocent citizens including the daughter of our leader
were killed and or kidnapped.
“President Buhari could not rein in his critical officials
like the then Governor of CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, who was printing money
rather than facing the reality of taking the difficult decisions, which were
postponed till the evil day.”
The group said a probe panel accused Godwin Emefiele and his
team of printing N22.7 trillion through ways and means and the federal
government was borrowing to pay salaries and pensions during the years of the
Buhari administration.
It added that some ministers suggested the removal of
subsidies, among other economic decisions but President Buhari did not agree
until his last year in office to lay a booby trap for the incoming
administration of President Tinubu.
“It was, therefore, obvious that we were simply postponing
the evil day. The CBN Governor denied leaks flying around that the books were
being doctored. He reassured the federation that all was well.
“He even wanted to
contest the presidential election! There were no penalties for his infractions
by President Buhari.
“These inactions and false lives continued till May 29,
2023, when the new helmsman, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, was sworn in as President.
“President Tinubu wasted no time amending his inauguration
address and declared the subsidy regime over! This was obvious as there was no
appropriation for subsidy from June 2023.
“He quickly followed up with the deregulation of the forex
regime, which resulted in the free fall of the Naira.
“A man who is not shy about making difficult decisions, he
probably underestimated the capability and capacity of the beneficiaries of the
old order to make things ungovernable for his administration.”
Afenifere noted that “those sleeping and snoring during the
eight years of Buhari suddenly woke up forgetting that these remedial actions
should have been taken many years back.
“The major sin of President Tinubu was in his contesting and
winning the presidential election and making these decisions, which will hurt
in the short term but bring us back to reality in the long run.
Afenifere, therefore, suggested a vibrant Ministry of
Information to regularly stay in touch with the people, as a way out of the
economic downturn.
It also suggested regular town hall meetings across the
country where ministers would go back to their constituencies to engage with
the people.
The group said “there should be the realignment of the
National Assembly budget and launch of operations go back to the people by the
legislators and each member must take palliatives back to the constituency.
” Governors receiving almost double allocations due to the
removal of subsidies and readjustment of the exchange rates should deliver to
their people. The allocations of each state of the federation should be
published monthly.
“Implementation of operation grow what we eat and eat what
we grow policy. Make banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism a capital offence
punishable by death.
“Return to true and fiscal federalism with state police, for
which we commend the President and Governors’ endorsement, and state ownership
of mineral resources.
“This is not the time for some elder statesmen to make
incendiary comments that can put our unity in jeopardy. Rather, it is a time to
deepen peaceful co-existence to navigate through our current challenges.
Afenifere noted that” Orchestrating anarchy will be resisted
in our dear nation. We fought through our blood to achieve democracy. We will
also vigorously defend it, as it is here to stay.”
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Stop this blame game, tinibu was here in this country and knew was happening.
ReplyDeleteHe had the right to refuse the office considering what lies ahead.
Bye the way, is it buhari that ask him to remove subsidy on first day of his office causing the current situation in the country
You are ignorant about happenings in the country.this is not blaming is reality on ground,if he doesn't remove that time, things could have worst than this, where is the money Buari left to continue paying for subsidy.
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