In a scathing statement released to journalists in Akure, the Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, condemned the policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu during his first two months in office.
The organization particularly expressed dismay over the sudden removal of subsidy on petrol and the subsequent increase in pump prices, which have exacerbated the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The statement released by Secretary General, Sola Ebiseni, titled “On Petrol Subsidy, Insensitive Policies and State of Governance in Nigeria: Afenifere Speaks for the People,” conveyed the group’s deep concern for the citizens who are already grappling with a challenging economic environment characterized by hyperinflation, unemployment, and mass poverty.
Afenifere asserted that remaining silent or neutral in the face of these policies would be an abandonment of their historic role as the people’s ombudsman.
“Nigeria is currently caught in a labyrinth of inclement weather of a convoluted election process and its unwieldy outcomes, intractable security problems and the nightmarish aftermath of a sudden and harsh removal of petrol subsidy on the other. In less than six weeks, an already asphyxiating economy reeling under the crushing impact of hyperinflation, unemployment, mass hunger and poverty foisted by the gross ineptitude and incompetence that characterised the watch of eight years is looking like an episode drawn straight out of Dante’s Hell.
Afenifere expressed apprehension that the economic policies pursued by President Tinubu would push more Nigerians into poverty. The abrupt removal of petrol subsidy, coupled with the falling value of the Naira and increasing school fees in federal educational institutions, is likely to compound the country’s economic woes.
“The number of extremely poor Nigerians may now be compounded by the multiplier effects of peremptory removal of petrol subsidy, intractable fall of the Naira and surreptitious increase in school fees payable in Federal Government secondary and tertiary educational institutions.
The group acknowledged the need to address the unsustainable petrol subsidy regime, but it criticized the government’s failure to introduce necessary palliative measures to mitigate the immediate impact on the people and the economy.
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The organization stated that transparency and accountability were lacking in the management of the subsidy regime during the past eight years. Afenifere also criticized the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its opaque practices, lack of oversight, and apparent allowance for corruption among some privileged officials and their private collaborators.
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While Afenifere acknowledged that the top three presidential candidates in the last election had agreed on removing the subsidy due to its wasteful and corruption-riddled nature, they criticized the manner in which it was done without adequate consideration for its consequences.
The group called for a well-coordinated approach with countervailing palliatives to shield the citizens and the economy from undue hardship.
To restore the country’s fiscal viability, Afenifere suggested a reduction in the exorbitant cost of governance. The group urged the government to update the Oransaye’s Report to include new agencies and reflect the urgent need for cost reduction. Additionally, they advocated for revising the excessively generous salaries, allowances, and perks of public officers, aligning them with the reality of the Nigerian economy.
The social misery index, as described by Afenifere, has reached an all-time high, with more Nigerians feeling hopeless amid escalating mass poverty. The organization warned that unless concrete actions were taken to ameliorate the suffering of the people, the country might face massive unrest that could spiral out of control.
Afenifere demanded a thorough investigation into corruption in the oil industry and the management of palliatives. They called for the recovery of embezzled public funds and for those found guilty to be held accountable for their crimes. The group emphasized the need for genuine solutions that address the actual needs of the populace, rather than superficial measures that offer only temporary relief to a select few.
In conclusion, Afenifere’s statement highlighted the urgency of implementing policies that prioritize the welfare of Nigerians and restore hope to the nation. The organization urged the government to act with prudence and transparency, taking into account the well-being of the citizens as the foremost priority in decision-making.