Can Buhari Laugh At Tinubu’s Government, by Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The statement credited to the former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Reuben Abati, criticising the handling of Nigeria’s economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued to generate mixed reactions in the country. Reuben Abati has said, “Nigerians are now facing gross embarrassment in economic management, describing the situation as one which would elicit laughter from former President Muhammadu Buhari.”

We now find ourselves in a situation whereby former President Muhammadu Buhari will be laughing. He will say okay, I think this Yoruba people say they know the economy, the economy is now in their hands, they have mismanaged it” Even before Reuben Abati fired his salvo to the Tinubu administration for the mismanagement of the country’s economy, Nigerians have been bitterly complaining about its economy policies since it came on board. In less than two years at the helm of affairs, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond the reach of the common man and inflation reaches 40% all record high, thereby reducing purchasing power and pushes many Nigerians into abject poverty.

After president Tinubu won the 2023 general elections, expectations from Nigerians were very high. Many Nigerians believed that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu possess quick magic wand that can be used to solve the country’s socio-economy doldrums. The unflinching support and trust he enjoyed stemmed primarily from his past records as democrat and former governor of Lagos State. His struggle for the entrenchment of democracy during the dark days of military junta coupled with how he transformed Lagos spoke volumes about his leadership qualities. In fact, these qualities were his selling points during the last general elections. After president Tinubu has been sworn in on 29th May,2023, he suddenly changed his colour. The questions on lips of Nigerians were: was he the Tinubu they knew who opposed subsidy removal during Jonathan government? Was he wrongly advised by vadoo economists to remove the subsidy? To the chagrin of Nigerians, president Tinubu swallowed the advise sink, line and hooker.

During his inauguration speech, he stated that “subsidy is gone” and immediately float the naira. The implementation of these twins policies have brought untold hardship to Nigerians, in spite of several economy interventions put in place to mitigate adverse effects. Though, president Tinubu may have inherited struggling economy from his predecessor due to the abuse of ways and means, questionable petroleum subsidy payments and other financial infractions, his government handling of the economy has left so much to be desired.

Buhari will laugh at this government for mismanagement of the economy as stated by Abati. The former president avoid the removal of subsidy because he foresaw the catastrophic and looming dangers ahead. He refused to yield to pressure of Bretton Woods institutions and other economy experts. While President Tinubu may be right that the removal of fuel subsidy will free up more money to subnational government, it can not led to corresponding improvement of the living conditions of Nigerians. Evidence are bound on how, despite receiving billions of naira from the federal government as statutory allocations and palliatives, many state governors could not justify how they utilise the largeness. It is, therefore ,mere rhetoric that the removal of subsidy can bring more developments to the country. One year after its removal, the economy has maintained its curve trajectory, with more people jumping to poverty. Besides, Buhari from Daura, can laugh with his mouth open on the deteriorating level of insecurity in the country. While his government can not exonerate itself from the blame, insecurity has taken a very dangerous dimensions under this administration. Nigeria has seen a dramatic rise in violence, with 13,346 people killed and 9,207 abducted across the country. This surge in violence, spanning 667 local government areas, is attributed to terrorism banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, and other forms of social upheaval.

The Tinubu administration should take Reuben Abati’s criticism seriously and is coming from patriotic Nigerian who wants the best for his country. It also needs to make a quick amend. President Tinubu should neither disappoint his Yoruba people who are considered as economy gurus nor Nigerians who voted him in 2023. He should reevaluate his policies and redefine his renewal agenda. It seems something is amiss, as the expected impacts from his policies are not putting smile on the faces of Nigerians.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State.08169056963.