.President living in denial over subsidy removal
.Nigeria now on the edge due to the rising cost of living



The immediate-past National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Salihu Moh. Lukman has called for concerted efforts to establish a viable alternative platform to put the APC in “its rightful place and overcome the current extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned leadership of President Bola Tinubu”.

Lukman, a chieftain of the party from Kaduna state, made the call in a statement issued Saturday.

He said; “No doubt, President Tinubu has challenged Nigerians to think outside the conventional political box. APC members and leaders, and indeed all patriotic Nigerians committed to the democratic development of the country, are being challenged daily to ask the question of the value of being associated with a political party if all that it does is only to field candidates for elections. The way and manner both former President Buhari and President Tinubu have managed affairs of the country without consulting party leadership and structures in the last nine years made a mockery of democracy.

“The survival and further development of Nigerian democracy must not be allowed to be limited to the discretion of individual leaders, no matter how powerful they are. Patriotic Nigerians and democrats must resume the business of national mobilisation to produce an alternative democratic platform to APC and all the charades of registered political parties. We must summon the courage and believe in the power of possibility.

“Just like we succeeded in pushing the military back to the barracks and defeating the PDP in 2015, it is possible to create a politically viable and truly popular democratic alternative platform that can put the APC in its rightful place and overcome the current extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned leadership of President Tinubu.

“The beauty of being a democracy is the freedom it offers to engage in political contest. Patriotic Nigerians must practically and loudly convey the right message to President Tinubu, the APC leadership and Nigerian politicians that our democracy must be transformed beyond the current ugly state of ceremonial elections, which ends up producing leaders who continue to act like emperors and dictators who rule the country worse that military governments.

“Nigerians must be mobilized to rise above dishonest politicians who only manipulate their way to power and reduce citizens to the status of conquered people. Democracy will be worthless if the result is only to elect civilian overlords. That can only be checked if we produce a functional political party, with committed leaders who submit themselves to processes of negotiations in all its ramifications, and agreements contracted that are binding and capable of regulating the conducts of elected representatives and governments produced at all levels. Nigerians are not conquered people!”, He added.

According to Lukman, the crisis of corruption associated with the Social Investments Programme and clear lack of commitment to anything close to social democracy by APC governments at all levels represent one of the failings of the party.

He said with hardly any exception since 2015, governments at all levels controlled by the APC operate based on the practice of business-as-usual.

Noting that the problems of corruption, insecurity and economic crisis have gotten worse, Lukman lamented that the nation is on the edge of social outbursts.

While warning against any further increase in the pump price of fuel, Lukman accused the president of living in denial, with regards to the reintroduction of full subsidy through the back door.

“Crisis of high cost of living, rising unemployment and high level of poverty are becoming unbearable. The nation is on the edge of a social outburst. Unfortunately, the APC, even under President Asiwaju Tinubu is turning out to be unable to respond to the problem of high cost of living, rising unemployment and higher levels of poverty and mitigate the hardship facing ordinary Nigerians.

“The bigger calamity is that President Tinubu is turning out to be an extreme right-wing leader and not a liberal capitalist. The speed with which he declared that petroleum ‘subsidy is gone’ even before settling down as President and the inability to have a clear policy plan to cushion the effect for vulnerable Nigerians highlighted the ideological leaning of President Tinubu.

“Combined with the policy of floating the exchange rate of the Naira against major international currencies clearly defined the extreme right-wing credentials of the Tinubu administration. For an import-dependent nation to withdraw subsidy and float the exchange of the Naira without any clear responsive policy plan to boost local production is simply decidedly anti-poor. The reality whereby the value of incomes of citizens has been eroded should have been expected and at least some initiatives to grow the earning capacity of citizen should have been introduced.


“Unfortunately, all we have is grandstanding by the government so much so that they are now trapped back in the subsidy debate. Given the value of the Naira today, the landing cost of one litre of imported petroleum motor spirit is certainly more than N700. Given the relatively low income of citizens, any attempt to increase it beyond N700 could trigger social unrest in the country. Involuntarily, therefore, the government is taking the additional cost without being able to admit that its decision to withdraw the subsidy on petrol has failed. Desolately, President Asiwaju Tinubu’s government is living in denial. How long can it continue to deny that subsidy is back?”, He queried.

He said there is now no need to pretend, as APC’s claim of being a political party capable of aggregating the interest of Nigerians has been lost.

According to him the APC is now painfully implementing extreme right-wing policies and President Tinubu has turned out to be a leader who is intolerant of those who could disagree with him.

“With such reality, it behoves patriotic Nigerians to return to the trenches of the campaign for democracy and pick up the debris from APC’s failure in the last nine years. In doing so, those of us who have been privileged to rise at different levels of APC’s leadership must do so with absolute humility and recognition of all the factors that have destroyed the APC.

“Perhaps, we need to accept the correctness of the campaign against the APC that many leaders of the party, including former President Buhari and now President Tinubu, only agreed to come together to grab power, which was not associated with the needed commitment to deliver services to address national challenges. Sadly, with the mission to grab power, they ‘promise (everything) and did nothing.’

“This challenge begs the question, how do we create a political organising strategy that goes beyond just winning elections or grabbing power? How can we have a party, which if it wins the Presidency, the President, whoever he will be, will be subordinated to the party? How can we create a party in which there will be multiple power blocs and leaders of the party will have the needed capacity to facilitate negotiations and agreements, which will be binding on all members and leaders of the party? How can we have a party that will have the capacity to mobilize all the funds it needs to run the affairs of the party, including funding the elections of all the candidates of the party at all levels? How can we organise a party whose leadership at all levels can have the same conditions of service correspondingly with public officers at that level?

“We can go on asking all the valid questions. It will be defeatist to expect anyone to provide the answers. Only those patriotic Nigerians who are ready to return to the trenches of democratic struggles to resume mobilization and negotiations to move Nigerian democracy beyond the current lethargic state, can begin to provide answers to these practical questions.

“The negotiations to produce an alternative political platform, which can move Nigerian democracy forward must prioritize the development of a functional political party structure based on ability to answer some of these practical questions should be the consideration.

“Part of what must be guarded against to avoid the pitfalls that destroyed the APC is to shun the old opportunistic political warriors who are serial contestants and aspirants to every election since 1999. The arrogance about having access to financial resources must be redressed based on skilful fund-raising strategy. In any event, how much money did former President Buhari have for APC to defeat the PDP in 2015?”, He queried.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/06/2027-buhari-tinubu-made-mess-of-democracy-ex-apc-nwc-member-moves-against-tinubu/

A whole nine years

People were warned but parochiial politics primordial and ethno-religious supremacist sentiments beclouded the sound sense of judgement of many people. Now here we are @ this messy political quagmire and cul-de-sac the APC under Buhari and Tinubu have driven it into with the aid of their supporters with equally warped prismatic worldview.

Meanwhile, I don't know why Yoruba elites kept on supporting Tinubu despite the visible flaws from all angles. How do one expects Nigeria to be great again with such high level of open tribalism?

From Femi Fani-Kayode, Wole Soyinka, Doyin Okupe, to Bode George, a common thing with all the political sycophants supporting this failed Tinubu govt is their marked sympathetic attitude to rationalise cluelessness, incompetency and ineptitude. A man with many questionable past was foist upon a nation. Where is our morality and sound judgement.

It is no longer heard of how Tinubu built Lagos and how he was the most prepared presidential candidate? They are now shamelessly economising the truth while rationalising failed leadership. How can a nation makes progress this way?

-1). The survival and further development of Nigerian democracy must not be allowed to be limited to the discretion of individual leaders, no matter how powerful they are. Patriotic Nigerians and democrats must resume the business of national mobilisation to produce an alternative democratic platform to APC and all the charades of registered political parties. We must summon the courage and believe in the power of possibility.

-2). “Just like we succeeded in pushing the military back to the barracks and defeating the PDP in 2015, it is possible to create a politically viable and truly popular democratic alternative platform that can put the APC in its rightful place and overcome the current extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned leadership of President Tinubu.

-3). “The beauty of being a democracy is the freedom it offers to engage in political contest. Patriotic Nigerians must practically and loudly convey the right message to President Tinubu, the APC leadership and Nigerian politicians that our democracy must be transformed beyond the current ugly state of ceremonial elections, which ends up producing leaders who continue to act like emperors and dictators who rule the country worse that military governments.

-4). “Nigerians must be mobilized to rise above dishonest politicians who only manipulate their way to power and reduce citizens to the status of conquered people. Democracy will be worthless if the result is only to elect civilian overlords. 

Words on marble.

I took my time to read this article and sincerely Salihu Lukman is very correct.This Government dropped the ball from Day One but it will be unfair to them to claim they have not tried very hard to get it right
There are three key areas this Government must quickly find a way to engage and clear the mess because not doing so can further hurt their hard work
The first is the area of Agriculture,the prices of everyday foodstuffs keep soaring and sincerely there seems to be no end.The Government must as a matter of urgency open the Land borders for foodstuffs to be brought in.There is no shame in admitting that we need help,a lot of it right now
This can be temporary but it must be done within the next six weeks

The Second is Electricity. The Federal Government has handed over to the states the go ahead to start generating and distribution of Electricity. This move is laudable but more is needed..It is like when a toddler starts to walk,you don't leave them alone you still need to guide them
Electricity is money consuming,you need lots of money to become a player in that sector.The FG can help states by providing grants for those that need it and technical know how before they become independent

The third is Security. Almost Everyone seems to agree that we need a semblance of local policing in our villages and towns as the Nigerian police is stretched thin to police the country. The president should shoulder the responsibility of getting the needed votes to create the State police bill and possibly amend the constitution to do so
Nigeria is seriously being tried by non state actors and their action is partly responsible for the low harvest by farmers in certain parts of Nigeria

My submission is that the President needs to start preparing the Nigerian Omelette and he will need to break some eggs to achieve it

Aptly put!

Racoon:
People were warned but parochiial politics primordial and ethno-religious supremacist sentiments beclouded the sound sense of judgement of many people. Now here we are @ this messy political quagmire and cul-de-sac the APC under Buhari and Tinubu have driven it into with the aid of their supporters with equally warped prismatic worldview.

Meanwhile, I don't know why Yoruba elites kept on supporting Tinubu despite the visible flaws from all angles. How do one expects Nigeria to be great again with such high level of open tribalism?

From Femi Fani-Kayode, Wole Soyinka, Doyin Okupe, to Bode George, a common thing with all the political sycophants supporting this failed Tinubu govt is their marked sympathetic attitude to rationalise cluelessness, incompetency and ineptitude. A man with many questionable past was foist upon a nation. Where is our morality and sound judgement.

It is no longer heard of how Tinubu built Lagos and how he was the most prepared presidential candidate? They are now shamelessly economising the truth while rationalising failed leadership. How can a nation makes progress this way?

This govt has failed irreversibly. Nothing can be done especially because Tinubu lacks the legitimacy and integrity to move Nigeria from the doldrums

Kenochi:
I took my time to read this article and sincerely Salihu Lukman is very correct.This Government dropped the ball from Day One but it will be unfair to them to claim they have not tried very hard to get it right
There are three key areas this Government must quickly find a way to engage and clear the mess because not doing so can further hurt their hard work
The first is the area of Agriculture,the prices of everyday foodstuffs keep soaring and sincerely there seems to be no end.The Government must as a matter of urgency open the Land borders for foodstuffs to be brought in.There is no shame in admitting that we need help,a lot of it right now
This can be temporary but it must be done within the next six weeks

The Second is Electricity. The Federal Government has handed over to the states the go ahead to start generating and distribution of Electricity. This move is laudable but more is needed..It is like when a toddler starts to walk,you don't leave them alone you still need to guide them
Electricity is money consuming,you need lots of money to become a player in that sector.The FG can help states by providing grants for those that need it and technical know how before they become independent

The third is Security. Almost Everyone seems to agree that we need a semblance of local policing in our villages and towns as the Nigerian police is stretched thin to police the country. The president should shoulder the responsibility of getting the needed votes to create the State police bill and possibly amend the constitution to do so
Nigeria is seriously being tried by non state actors and their action is partly responsible for the low harvest by farmers in certain parts of Nigeria

My submission is that the President needs to start preparing the Nigerian Omelette and he will need to break some eggs to achieve it

DMerciful:
This govt has failed irreversibly. Nothing can be done especially because Tinubu lacks the legitimacy and integrity to move Nigeria from the doldrums

Seunmsg, Sarrki, Mannabbgrills, NgeneUkwenu, Helineus,

Racoon:
Seunmsg, Sarrki, Mannabbgrills, NgeneUkwenu, Helineus,

That mannabbqgrillz guy is the most shameless... tufiakwa.


And he's still here oo, after his disgraceful outing with poohaari, unfortunately, helinues has taken over from him

lukman, Buhari, Tinubu and APC members are all guilty

Kenochi:
This Government dropped the ball from Day One but it will be unfair to them to claim they have not tried very hard to get it right

^^^


They have not.

They have not!!

The BAT administration is WASTEFUL. There is a shocking disregard of any kind of frugality by those in government - at a time when Nigerians are being put through hell. The administration is not just wasteful (bad enough as that is) but it is also HYPOCRITICAL. At each of the numerous wasteful jamborees he attends outside the country, BAT reads out the speeches prepared by his handlers - speeches in which he is deceptively portrayed as some bold, visionary reformer.

This is nothing but propaganda. He is no reformer. He is nothing of the sort.

BAT is a prebendalist, through and through. He is who he is and nothing can change that.

DMerciful:
This govt has failed irreversibly. Nothing can be done especially because Tinubu lacks the legitimacy and integrity to move Nigeria from the doldrums

No Nigerian government be it Federal, State, or Local can arrange the self inflicted damages you have put on yourself, be corrected for you in 8 years.

Something that you couldn’t do for yourself for over 2 decades, you expect strangers to come & do for you in a few years?

Dey wait make Bola Tinubu come make your life pleasant for you.

Fujiyama:



^^^


They have not.

They have not!!

The BAT administration is WASTEFUL. There is a shocking disregard of any kind of frugality by those in government - at a time when Nigerians are being put through hell. The administration is not just wasteful (bad enough as that is) but it is also HYPOCRITICAL. At each of the numerous wasteful jamborees he attends outside the country, BAT reads out the speeches prepared by his handlers - speeches in which he is deceptively portrayed as some bold, visionary reformer.

This is nothing but propaganda. He is no reformer. He is nothing of the sort.

BAT is a prebendalist, through and through. It is who he is and nothing can change that.

Sorry that your messiah Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not been able to rejuvenate your life for you as you had expected.

Atiku has contacted this one, when they are privileged they laugh but when they are left behind and dropped they cry like bitter grieving obi, no man born out of woman or evil spirit like bitter grieving obi can unseat eze-chukwu Bola Ahmed Tinubu of igbo land, if you like cry out blood

blacknp:
Sorry that your messiah Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not been able to rejuvenate your life for you as you had expected.

^^^


He isn't my Messiah (whatever that means). And for arguments sake, lets assume I had expectations about the man 'rejuvenating' (your words - not mine) my life - what's wrong with that? People have expectations about those who lead them. Isn't that the natural order of things?

He is a politician who was declared winner by the courts in a bitterly contested election - an election marred by widespread irregularities. Instead of settling down to work to gain some legitimacy by cleaning up the public sector, (and changing the way Nigeria does business) the man has proved he (and his administration) cannot rise above his personal shortcomings. Twelve months gone and its been more of the same old song.

A wasted opportunity.

No matter how you guys twist things, Tinubu is the worst illegitimate president in Nigerian history

blacknp:
No Nigerian government be it Federal, State, or Local can arrange the self inflicted damages you have put on yourself, be corrected for you in 8 years.

Something that you couldn’t do for yourself for over 2 decades, you expect strangers to come & do for you in a few years?

Dey wait make Bola Tinubu come make your life pleasant for you.

This is a man who was recuperating from knee surgery in the UK before the 2023 elections - and almost the entire upper echelon of the Lagos state govt/civil service went to the UK on a 'get well soon visit' of extremely dubious value.

Air tickets to the UK don't come cheap. Those officials certainly didn't shell out the money for those air tickets from their own pockets but the money definitely came from somewhere. I leave you all to speculate on that.

BAT came into power and immediately removed fuel subsidies leading to a spike of over 200% in the costs of key consumables for the most vulnerable members of this society. He followed that decision with a unification of exchange rates that again, led to a significant spike in the cost of doing business for most Nigerians. One would think that the "reform" mindset behind these decisions would be replicated across the board at the highest levels of government...but BAT is a fanatical disciple of the "rules for thee but not for me" school.

And so...while ordinary Nigerians were reeling and screaming in pain from an economy in turmoil, the country was assaulted with the extremely offensive debauchery of a wasteful, bloated contingent to COP 28 and the UNGA assembly - all within the first few months of the administration taking over power.

The unbelievable profligacy of the BAT administration has continued till this very moment. And their minions online expect us to pretend that all is well? Who are they fooling?

DMerciful:
No matter how you guys twist things, Tinubu is the worst illegitimate president in Nigerian history

We Know, make you go Republic du Cameroon go meet your Biafra President.

Fujiyama:


^^^


He isn't my Messiah (whatever that means). And for arguments sake, lets assume I had expectations about the man 'rejuvenating' (your words - not mine) my life - what's wrong with that? People have expectations about those who lead them. Isn't that the natural order of things?

He is a politician who was declared winner by the courts in a bitterly contested election - an election marred by widespread irregularities. Instead of settling down to work to gain some legitimacy by cleaning up the public sector, (and changing the way Nigeria does business) the man has proved he (and his administration) cannot rise above his personal shortcomings. Twelve months gone and its been more of the same old song.

A wasted opportunity.

Yes o, whatever you can do to salvage what is left of your existence is accepted.

DMerciful:
No matter how you guys twist things, Tinubu is the worst illegitimate president in Nigerian history

That is the drift! They wants to force everyone to accept illegality. They forgot this is not the era of black and white TV. This is the Internet age for goodness sake.