Nigerian Leaders Are Extravagant, Masses Bear The Brunt Of Harsh Economic Policies – CD

By Ayodele Oni

The Campaign for Democracy, (CD), has reviewed the current policies and actions of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and concluded that masses alone are being forced to carry their burden.

National President of CD, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, in a statement, stated that recent appointment of some members of the national assembly as Ministers and aides of the president amounts to insensitive to the economic situation of Nigeria.

“We feel, very strongly, that the present APC government seems to be far from the reality on ground. We see the present leaders as people who are not willing to make any sacrifice for Nigeria which they were co-destoyers.

“Rather they want Nigerian masses to be the ones to solely make the sacrifice. President Tinubu has informed Nigerians that the nation is very poor, reason for the withdrawal of oil subsidy.

“It is, therefore, unreasonable, unimaginable and indiscribable that the same Government will,  at the same time, come out with fresh budget for the elections of the NASS members whose positions were swapped for Ministerial and staff appointments.

“We asked, are there no other intelligent persons, capable hands in those states that the President has to commute the already elected lawmakers for ministerial positions not minding the extra budget that will be involved in organizing fresh election in those federal constituencies to replace them?

“If the Government would want the cooperation of Nigerians in making sacrifices, the pilots of our nation’s affairs must be seen to lead in the making of sacrifices as well.

“The Government cannot tell Nigerians to prepare for hard time, make sacrifices, when people in the same government are brutally displaying their ill gotten wealth to the masses and the executive arm of the government is reckless with our limited resources.

“Also, CD took notice of members of the red chamber making mockery of Nigerians when one of the Senators presented a bill titled, ‘Nigerians Cannot Breath’.

“The response of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the body languages of other Senators show that Nigeria is on the wrong path. Evil men have taken over our nation.

“On many occasions, at different fora, CD has echoed and re echooed it that the only panacea for coup in Africa is to give the people good governance, not mere fancy speeches and display of mundane political techniques by certain group of people with questionable character.

“The oppression of the masses, the deteriorating security situation, the bad social and economic management system, the endemic corruption, the constitution manipulation, the mass poverty, the hunger issue and every other social vices visible and dominating the governance system of our African leaders are direct invitation to coup as can be seen in Niger in recent times.

“A government cannot subjugate the people to acute pain and hunger and expect them to keep quiet.

“Government should do the right thing for the people at the right time, then our nation will be haven of peace.

“There is need for belt-tightening from the top, especially, at the legislative houses.  The masses alone must not be made to carry the burden while their leaders wine and dine in the confines of their palatial estates.”

Odili berated the African leaders noting that the event in Niger is a reminder of the security challenges facing that country and such creates potentials for military intervention in politics anywhere in the continent.