Afenifere, a prominent Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, has voiced its profound disappointment with the current economic situation in Nigeria, particularly since President Bola Tinubu assumed office. The organization has expressed concerns that under President Tinubu’s leadership, Nigerians are facing more severe economic challenges than they did at the start of his administration.
This sentiment was conveyed in a communiqué released after Afenifere’s quarterly meeting, which took place on Tuesday in Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State. The meeting was led by the Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan.
According to the communiqué, Afenifere believes that the country is grappling with widespread hardship, hunger, insecurity, and high unemployment rates. They argue that the current administration has failed to effectively manage public funds, exacerbating the difficulties faced by the average Nigerian.
The communiqué highlights several key points:
- Economic Hardship and Social Distress: Afenifere observed that Nigerians are experiencing significant economic distress. This includes severe hunger, continuous insecurity, high inflation rates, and massive unemployment. These issues have collectively left many citizens in a worse position than they were before President Tinubu took office.
- Mismanagement of Public Resources: The organization criticized the government’s handling of public finances, accusing it of lacking foresight and purpose. They noted that there has been a concerning trend of mismanagement and profligate spending of resources.
- Examples of Extravagant Spending: Afenifere provided specific examples of what they consider wasteful expenditures by the Tinubu administration. These include:
- Purchase of an Aircraft: A staggering $100 million (approximately N240 billion) was spent on acquiring an Airbus A330 for the President, with an additional $50 million allocated for retrofitting the aircraft.
- Luxury Vehicles: The administration reportedly spent N950 million each on new armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs for the President.
- Vice Presidential Mansion Renovation: N21 billion was spent on renovating a new mansion for the Vice President.
- Religious Pilgrimage Subsidy: N90 billion was allocated as a subsidy for religious pilgrimages.
- Presidential Lodge Renovation: N10 billion was used to renovate the Presidential Lodge located on Ribadu Road, Lagos.
- Concerns About Press Freedom: The communiqué also addressed the issue of media freedom, criticizing the government’s recent actions against media professionals. Afenifere urged the administration to adhere to Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press and expression. The group expressed concern that the harassment of media personnel could undermine democratic values and transparency.
The organization is calling for a reassessment of the current administration’s policies and spending practices, urging a more responsible and thoughtful approach to managing the nation’s resources.
As Nigeria continues to face numerous challenges, Afenifere’s statements reiterates the urgent need for effective leadership and economic reforms to address the pressing issues of hardship, insecurity, and unemployment.
