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Are Nigerians Happy with Tinubu’s Reforms?

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By Eric Elezuo
Amid excruciating hardship faced by Nigerians since the advent of the President Bola Tinubu-administration, the government has continued to issue policy reforms that seem to continue to impoverish the populace. But feelers from the Presidency has remarked that the harshness of the policies notwithstanding, Nigerians are heading towards Eldorado, and have every cause to be happy.
This therefore, posits the question whether Nigerians are happy with the economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
Making a case for the policies, which have seen to high inflation rates, inability of the naira to compete in the capital market and dearth of excess liquidity for rainy day mandates, Tinubu and many of his lieutenants, on many and separate occasions, have stoutly defended the policies, giving the economy a clean bill of health and suggesting that Nigerians are happy considering what they claim lies ahead as dividend.
Earlier in the month, at the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) with the theme: “Economic growth and development strategies in resource-rich country” held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Tinubu, represented by his Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, vigorously defended the economic policies of his administration declaring that it is yielding the desired fruits.

Before about 300 editors, Tinubu said his administration took a bold step to end the ruinous fuel subsidy regime that deprives Nigeria from investing in critical physical and social infrastructure and the foreign exchange regime that was prone to unimaginable levels of arbitrage and abuse.

“While oil remains a significant source of revenue for Nigeria, we are investing heavily in other sectors to diversify our economy for sustainable growth.

“The launch of the Presidential Initiative on CNG is a deliberate strategy to harness our abundant gas resources.

“This is to bring down the high cost of transportation by about 60 per cent and also foster a clean and healthy environment for our citizens.

“This initiative has unlocked close to $200 million in private sector investments in the last one year,” he said.

He added that “You can also access funds from the Bank of Industry at a single-digit interest rate for the development and expansion of your business.

“Our goal is to ensure that the benefits of growth reach every Nigerian, especially those who have been marginalised.

“The Social Investment Programme has been retooled to ensure economic relief is provided for our most vulnerable groups systematically and transparently. At the last count, 25 million Nigerians received N25,000 under the Conditional Cash Transfer.”

In the same vein, the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, added that non-implementation of economic reforms by past administrations is the reason Nigerians are in pain, discomfort, and difficulties under Tinubu’s reforms.

Speaking at the launch of ‘Federal Civil Service Policies and Guidelines on Rewards’, Edun stressed that despite the pains and discomforts and difficulties experienced by Nigerians due to the policies, the successes and gains are coming through.

“After 18 months of bold and necessary reforms that Mr. President has implemented, the country has changed, and yes, the reforms were so long overdue that it caused an element of pain, discomfort, difficulty, and increased cost of living. But the successes and the gains are coming through.

“Market-based pricing of foreign exchange was fully in place. The result was immediate benefit to the federal coffers, to the state coffers, and to the local government coffers because an amount of 5 percent of GDP is what goes to subsidies,” he said.

But the defence of the government and its agencies and cronies notwithstanding, situations and reports have proved that Nigerians are far from happy with the policies as hunger and untold hardship continue to be the order of the day.

“It is a fact that the National Bureau of Statistics’ October 2024 headline and food inflation figures rose to 33.88 percent and 39.16 percent, respectively, weakening the purchasing power of many Nigerians,” An economic analyst told The Boss.

Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has joined their voice in calling for a review of the policies, which have become a harbinger of hunger and economic hardship in Nigeria, saying that citizens are dying.
The group made the call via a statement signed by the Clerk of the Senate, NANS headquarters, Abdulyekinn Odunayo.
According to Odunayo, Nigerians have been subjected to unwarranted impoverishment and hunger since President Tinubu assumed office, urging him to espouse a policy capable of revamping the economy of Nigeria.
He noted that fuel subsidy removal and floating of the country’s currency done simultaneously by the Tinubu-led government have further sunk Nigeria into the economic abyss, heightened hunger and raised the cost of living of millions of Nigerians.
Odunyo pointed out that many Nigerians had hoped that the economic mess created by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari would be cleared by the incumbent administration, but the country had only witnessed skyrocketing increase in prices of food and other essential commodities.
He observed further that students in the country had not been spared of the present precarious economic situation as many could no longer continue their education pursuit.
“There is an urgent need by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to put measures in place to arrest hunger, poverty, impoverishment going on in the country. Nigerians are seriously groaning under the heavy burden of the present parlous economic situation. The nation has not had it this bad.
“The dual swords of Damocles of fuel subsidy removal and float of naira have stabbed Nigerians at their hearts. Many families can no longer feed even once in a day, let alone three times a day. Free falls of our currency against the dollars and other international currencies have capped the sufferings of Nigerians.
“As representatives of the Nigerian students, we are making a passionate call on the president to tailor and rev up his economic policies to provide short term, medium term and long term reliefs for Nigerians. Things need to improve as many Nigerians are finding it difficult to survive,” the statement read.
Also condemning the policies and expressing how unhappy and frustrated Nigerians have become, the leadership of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), speaking through its National Chairman, Falalu Bello, in a statement in Abuja titled ‘President Tinubu, Your Policies Killing Nigerians’, made a passionate appeal to the president to reconsider.
He condemned the Federal Government’s assertion tgat there are no alternatives to the ‘harmful’ policies, arguing that it was a contradiction to the basic tenets of economics, which advocate for the exploration of alternatives in addressing socio-economic challenges.
He said, “Such statements, especially coming from someone of his status (Vice President Shettima) in the current administration, are not only misleading but also indicative of a severe disconnect from the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians today. The population has been urged to endure these difficult times with the promise of relief on the horizon.

“However, we see no tangible evidence of this assurance in the actions of President Tinubu, his cabinet or the broader government apparatus. Instead, we witness a continuation of profligate lifestyles, excessive spending and the dissemination of dubious economic statistics that do little to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian populace.”

The PRP Chairman reminded Tinubu that Nigerians are suffering, and are not happy with him as a person and his administration, generally except there is a recalibration to prioritize citizens’ welfare.
“We strongly urge Tinubu to recalibrate his approach, implement a governance framework that prioritizes the welfare of citizens, and embrace homegrown policies that reflect the realities of our people rather than succumbing to externally imposed, anti-people measures that stifle progress.

“It is imperative that we act swiftly. Our nation is at a critical juncture, with time running out for meaningful intervention. Mr. President, it is time to act decisively for the sake of the nation’s future. Let us rescue our people from the grip of despair so that you may indeed dance before the music comes to an end,” he said.

Perhaps, the most effective evidence of the feelings of Nigerians regarding the Tinubu Policies, is reflected and summarized ìn the statement issued by the leading opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and signed by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, after a meeting of stakeholders in Jos, Plateau State.

The Communique, which promises genuine hope for Nigerians, reads “The Forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship foisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government.

“The Forum calls on the President to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies that will address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.

“The Forum wishes to pledge that all PDP Governors will continue to aggressively pursue policies and programs that will reduce the hardship and ensure progress and development.”

“The Forum notes the concerns of Nigerians, PDP founding fathers, elders and members of our great Party of seeming divisions within the ranks and files. The Forum wishes to state categorically that it remains resolute in its determination to ensure unity and cohesion of this great Party that Nigerians have come to trust as the best platform for democratic governance.

“The Forum is constrained to accept the latest postponement of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Party in empathy with our colleague, H.E. Governor Eno Bassey, whose late dear wife will be buried on the same day earlier scheduled for NEC. Once again, the Forum wishes to commiserate with our colleague and pray that God will grant him and the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

“The Forum is strongly advising the NWC to call NEC by the first week of February 2025 to allow for elaborate consultations with critical stakeholders of the Party. The period between November and February is to address the existential problems confronting the Party, with a deliberate timeline of activities within the period under review to address issues of leadership and litigations confronting the Party.

“The Forum notes with concern the rape of democracy in Edo Governorship elections. It is clear to everyone with a conscience that INEC manipulated results in favour of the APC candidate when, in fact, the majority of lawful votes were won by the PDP candidate, Mr. Asue Ighodalo. Meanwhile, we are still examining the documents in the Ondo elections, where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes. The Forum calls on the judiciary to save Nigerian democracy and the National Assembly to look into our electoral laws to make it difficult for institutional sabotage of the will of the people.

“The Forum recognises the good work that the majority of members of NASS are doing. NASS is therefore called upon to critically interrogate all bills to ensure fairness, equity, national balance and even development nationally.

“The Forum commiserates with the Government and people of Plateau State on the recent Katako market fire incident, which destroyed properties worth millions of Naira. The Forum also commiserates with the Government and people of Jigawa State on the recent tanker expulsion whereby scores of people lost their lives, and several others were injured.

“The Forum expresses its gratitude to the Government and People of Plateau State for not only hosting the meeting but extending to all the participants the hospitality for which Jos is reputed. In particular, the meeting commends the Government of the State for the visible and laudable transformation in social services, tourism and transportation that have taken place and ensures all Nigerians look forward, with GENUINE HOPE, to the replication of this not only presently but after 2027 when the party would reclaim its rightful position in the Nigerian political scene.”

In Brazil at the G20 Summit, during his interaction with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, President Bola Tinubu has stressed that he is committed to reducing the “hardship” resulting from the implementation of his administration’s ongoing reforms in Nigeria.

“I assured IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva @KGeorgieva during our meeting that our economic reforms are already yielding positive results. Our administration remains committed to reducing the hardship that has resulted from the implementation of these reforms, while also protecting the most vulnerable in Nigeria.

“Social safety nets, education, investments in infrastructure, and inclusive growth are key to our agenda,” Tinubu stated.

He also acknowledged the hardship associated with his policies but promised to reduce its effects on Nigerians.

He outlined that while his government is fast-tracking investments in several sectors, discussions are ongoing regarding stakeholders’ tax awareness and compliance responsibilities.

BACKGROUND

Nigerians relapsed to a worse form of hardship May 29, 2023, when Tinubu while making his inaugural speech declared that “subsidy is gone”. Ever since, the President has unleashed one reform after another that further pushes Nigerians towards the brinks of collapse while being repeatedly urged to be patient with the administration as they drive the nation towards economic growth.

Following the removal of the fuel subsidy, tariff on essential items including electricity, have been hiked, prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, naira has been floated, causing more hardship, but Tinubu stressed that the pain is temporary.

But on the streets of Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Jos, Maiduguri, Enugu, Kaduna, Minna, Damaturu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Aba, Calabar, Osogbo, Akure, Abakiliki, Bauchi and more, the story remains the same; hunger, depravity, hopelessness, gloom and uncertainty.

“Nigerians may not know if there would light at the end of the tunnel, but the truth remains that as at today, 18 months after the the coming of Tinubu and his policies, Nigerians are not happy,” a respondent summarized.

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El-Rufai Lacks Capacity to Win Even Senate Seat – Presidency

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Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has stated that the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the lacks the influence to “unsettle” President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala made the remarks during an interview with TVC News on Thursday, stating that former Kaduna State governor does not have the capacity to win even a senate seat.

He emphasized that President Tinubu is not troubled by El-Rufai’s ongoing criticisms of his administration.

Bwala also noted that el-Rufai only gains political prominence when aligning with a strong, revolutionary leader, adding: “Let me tell you something about my elder brother, el-Rufai, and whether we should be concerned.

“There’s a dynamic around him. El-Rufai needs a solid revolutionary figure to thrive. On his own, El-Rufa’i might not even secure a Senate seat.”

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Reps Propose Creation of 31 More States

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The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creation of 31 additional states in the country.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over plenary on Thursday read a letter from the committee containing the proposed states.

If approved, this will increase the number of states in Nigeria to 67.

The letter read: “This is to inform members that the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), has received legislative proposals for the creation of states and local governments in the following order:

NORTH CENTRAL

1. BENUE ALA STATE from the present Benue State.
2. OKUN STATE from the present Kogi State
3. OKURA STATE from the present Kogi State
4. CONFLUENCE STATE from the present Kogi State
5. APA-AGBA STATE from Benue South Senatorial District
6. APA STATE from the present Benue State.
7. A 37th state, namely FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA

NORTH EAST

8. AMANA STATE from the present Adamawa State.
9. KATAGUM STATE from the present Bauchi State.
10. SAVANNAH STATE from the present Borno State.
11. MURI STATE from the present Taraba State.

NORTH WEST

12. NEW KADUNA STATE and GURARA STATE from the present Kaduna State.
13. TIGA STATE from the present Kano State.
14. KAINJI STATE from the present Kebbi State.
15. GHARI STATE from the present Kano State

SOUTH EAST

16. ETITI STATE as the sixth (6th) state in the South East geopolitical zone.
17. ADADA STATE from the present Enugu State of Nigeria.
18. URASHI STATE as the sixth (6th) state in the South East geopolitical zone.
19. ORLU STATE from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria.
20. ABA STATE from the South Eastern Region of Nigeria.

SOUTH SOUTH

21. OGOJA STATE from the present Cross River State.
22. WARRI STATE from the present Delta State.
23. BORI STATE from the present Rivers State
24. OBOLO STATE from the present Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

SOUTH WEST

25. TORU-EBE STATE from the present Delta, Edo, and Ondo States.
26. IBADAN STATE from the present Oyo State.
27. LAGOON STATE from the present Lagos State.
28. IJEBU STATE from the present Ogun State.
29. LAGOON STATE from the present Lagos State and Ogun State
30. IBADAN STATE from the present Oyo State.
31. OKE-OGUN and IFE-IJESHA STATES from the Present-day Ogun, Oyo, and Osun states.

The request for states’ creation can only materialise if at least “the third majority of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives (National Assembly) and the House of Assembly in respect of the area, and the Local Government Council in respect of the area is received by the National Assembly.”

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How Far Will Tinubu Go Against Opposition?

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By Eric Elezuo

The spate of crises in opposition party camps have become worrisome, even more worrisome than the unimpressive economic situation of the country. Consequently, a lot of accusing fingers have been pointed at the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leader, President Bola Tinubu.

The Boss gathered that since the inception of the Tinubu-led administration, no political party in the country has known peace; they have all been immersed and enmeshed in one national, state or area council challenge or another, prompting mass defection to the ruling APC to solidify its political capacity.

From the supposed main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the surprised third force, Peter Obi’s Labour Party (LP), and down to Rabiu Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), an unfettered shenanigan has been the order of the day. Even the Social Democratic Party (SDP), reputed as the oldest surviving political party in Nigeria, is not spared of the raving malady of crises.

All fingers are pointed at President Tinubu as the architect of the problems, with accusations of his intentions to establish a one party state, and secure his return to power in 2027 without stress. This has prompted unanswered questions as to how far Tinubu is willing to go against the opposition parties.

In the PDP, and to a large extent, the LP, moles are said to hold prominent positions, and takes decisions that seem to align with the policies of the ruling party. In the PDP, a long drawn battle has continued to be waged as feuding factions fight for the soul of the party.

On one hand is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, though a card-carrying member of the PDP, but hobnobs in the most intimate fashion with the APC. The Minister is said to favour the stay in office of the PDP acting National Chairman, Aliyu Demagun and the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu against the wishes of the party. The situation has created tension and faction in the party.

“If Wike is sponsoring the likes of Damagun and Anyanwu, and Tinubu is sponsoring Wike, then we don’t a soothsayer to tell us who is dealing with the PDP. It’s all about 2027, and somebody or some people do not want any opposition or challenge to their ambition,” an insider confided in The Boss.

Only recently, a former Vice President and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, accused Tinubu of weaponizing state institutions to target political opponents rather than addressing corruption in his administration. He also alleged that the president was inducing opposition leaders with N50 million to constitute political nuisance to their parties, thereby destabilizing its smooth operations.

Atiku made the claim in a statement shared on social media over the weekend, citing the recent arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a prominent social critic, and Omoyele Sowore, as evidence of a politically motivated clampdown on people of diverse views.

“Two days ago, the nation was jolted by the arrest of Professor Usman Yusuf, a fierce and unyielding social critic,” Atiku wrote, suggesting that the charges against Yusuf, though originating from the previous administration, were being used selectively to suppress opposition voices.

The former vice president criticized the Tinubu administration for what he described as a double standard in its approach to fighting corruption. According to Atiku, while the government shields individuals within its fold who are under investigation for corruption, it exploits pending cases to intimidate and silence critics.

“It is absurd that while the administration shelters those under investigation, it continues to exploit state institutions to stifle dissent, all under the false pretence of combating corruption,” he stated.

Atiku further alleged that President Tinubu’s actions are aimed at consolidating political power rather than addressing the nation’s pressing issues, accusing him of manipulating the justice system to his advantage.

“Even to the most inattentive, it has become glaringly clear that Tinubu is not waging a war on corruption — he is waging a war on the opposition, manipulating the system for his own political advantage,” Atiku asserted.

The arrest of Professor Yusuf has sparked widespread reactions from his sympathizers, with many questioning the timing and motive behind the detention.

Yusuf, known for his outspoken criticism of the Tinubu administration, has become a prominent voice in Nigeria’s political discourse.

In another development, the former Vice President, who is also the Waziri Adamawa, decried what he describes as systematic dismantling of the opposition by Tinubu administration.

In a post on his X handle, Atiku said that the recent arrest and “baseless prosecution” of Omoyele Sowore and Usman Yusuf is the latest in the harassment of opposition figures.

“When I made the clarion call that Tinubu and the APC were devoting their energies to the systematic harassment, intimidation, and dismantling of the opposition, all in service of their grand design for a one-party autocracy, I became the target of vicious attacks.

“The arrest and baseless prosecution of @YeleSowore is the latest chapter in this unrelenting campaign. Now, they have seen fit to add Professor Usman Yusuf — an outspoken critic of this administration — into their grim roster. At the pace they are going, it seems they may soon find themselves contending with the incarceration of every one of us.”

Sowore, who is the convener of the #Revolutionnow movement, had honoured the invitation of the police on Monday, January 27, 2025, when he was questioned at the Force Criminal Investigation Department.

He was subsequently granted administrative bail but rejected the conditions of bail and remained in custody.

The police later filed a 16-count charge of cybercrime against him.

On Thursday, the court granted Sowore bail to the tune of ₦10 million and one surety in like sum.

The surety must be a responsible individual with landed property valued in like sum.

The surety is expected to deposit the original documents of landed property and a passport photograph to the registrar of the court.

While ruling on the bail application, the trial judge, Justice Musa Liman, ordered Sowore to deposit his international passport with the registrar of the court.

The judge, however, gave him 24 hours to perfect the bail conditions or be remanded by the police until the bail is perfected.

He was to be arraigned on Friday, but the arraignment was, however, moved to Monday (today) to allow for amendment of the charges, according to a statement by the EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.

Though defence counsel, Isah Dokto Haruna, who held brief for the lead defence counsel, O. I. Habeeb, SAN, made an application for bail, it was turned down  by the court on account of the defendant’s deferred arraignment.

Justice Nwecheonwu adjourned the matter till February 3, 2025, for arraignment and ruled that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Commission.

On the political party front, all is well with all the opposition political parties.

Stakeholders, observers and a large section of the general public are toeing the Atiku line that Tinubu has a hand in the disunity that has continued to ravage the parties, especially the PDP, which is touted as the party with the capacity to give him a run for his money come 2027.

Far back in 2023, just six months into the Tinubu administration, it became obvious that there is an unholy trend geared towards instigating crisis in parties, and harvest its members. The trend was not taking place via ballot papers or boxes or electoral propriety, but inordinate manipulations, using the instrumentality of the courts, judiciary, coercion and outright intimidation.

Fast forward to the present, the political positions are making dramatic switches to the APC via court rulings inordinate defections and more, giving a cross sections of Nigerian the effontery to believe there is a hidden agenda to welcome a new Nigeria where political positions both elected and appointed are ‘allocated’ to Tinubu’s APC. Only a few days ago, the senator representing Delta South, Ned Nwoko, joined a long list of decampees, who had found solace in the APC amid administrative deficiency, which reduced Nigerians to advocates of hardship, hunger and depravity.

A few instances were visible in 2023 to raise eyebrows as regards the direction and shape Nigeria political landscape was taking. They included the sack of all elected Plateau State PDP elected lawmakers, and replaced with defeated APC candidates, failed attempt to sack Zamfara and Kano states givernors, the victory of Imo and Kogi APC governorship candidates, and followed in 2024 by the victory of Edo APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo. In all instances, public opinion had feared obvious manipulations of the electoral and judicial processes.

Presently, almost all the elected federal lawmakers under the banner of the Labour Party have defected to the APC. The party shame-facely boasts of two national leaders; Julius Abure and Nenadi Esther Usman, creating dissension that that have continually polarized the party.

Everyone, with the interest of the political future of Nigeria, has continued to ask when Tinubu will let go of his grip on the fragile throats of opposition parties.

Meanwhile, the Tinubu camp has denied ever interfering in the politics of the opposition, carpeting yhe former vice president, Obi and host of other accusers.

Tinubu’s administration will be two years in four months, and with his grip on political decisions across board, it is believed that by the time the next electioneering kicks off, a whole lot of political figurehead would have decamped to join the APC.

Time is no longer telling; the reality on ground foretells doom for the political future ofbthe country.

But all in all, time will still tell; 2027 is just around the corner, and Nigerians are watching and waiting to see how the opposition parties will make recovery to free themselves from the Tinubu-grip.

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