What do you make of President Tinubu’s second anniversary speech?
An anniversary speech is customary. It seeks to validate the “renewed hope” promised, which has not materialized nor addressed the needs of Nigerians, or their wishes and aspirations. Nigerians are worse of than they were two years ago. They are discontented and feel entirely disenfranchised. Moreover, the speech is geared toward politicking and advance campaigning for a second term in 2027. In the context of what was accomplished, the speech was vacuous.
Do you think the current federal government can reverse the downward slide of the economy caused by the President’s knee jerk policies?
The administration orchestrated two years of progressively worsening situation. The downslide is also progressive. It is difficult to reverse or stop a loaded truck speeding downhill and in the wrong direction. One only hopes the crash won’t be fatal.
It is accepted that policies that induce more 20% price hike will also induce shock and trauma in the society. Fuel, electricity, transport, food, housing and medical prices have all exceeded 40% price hikes in the past two years. The Naira is grossly devalued. Nigerians are in a state of permanent shock. They face an existential treat. Most people are no longer living; they are barely surviving.
I heard a joke recently that said it all. A man was asked how things were under BAT. He responded: “Under Tinubu my family and I are no longer trying to make ends meet; we are only trying to make ends see each other from a distance.” A real sad situation, one might add.
What is your message to Nigerians in the face of the current socioeconomic challenges?
Time changes everything. In a democracy, we have the opportunity to elect persons of our choice to lead us. We also have the prerogative to vote out those who haven’t served us well. You can cast protest votes against those who have enacted policies that hurt you, your families or communities. That’s democracy!
Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. Nigerians are resilient people, but that does not mean that they should be punished in the extreme. Poverty, hunger and suffering are not stuff you brag about. They must therefore continue to voice their concerns and stand ready to protest and eventually vote out any government at the state or federal government that has not met their expectations.
