The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, over his 365 days of economic cluelessness and non performance, adding that integrity alone does not put food on the table of the common man.
Tinubu, stated this through the Nation Newspaper Editorial Chairman, Sam Omatseye, in a column titled, “When the bell rings twice” dated Monday, May 30, 2016.
He lamented that the poor are getting poorer, with no single kilometre of road tarred, coupled with the ravaging Niger Delta Militants.
Tinubu’s outburst came at a time when the Buhari-led federal government is gradually losing popularity amidst excruciating economic downturn.
Post-Nigeria had reported that it took the urgent intervention of Tinubu to halt the three days strike embarked upon by the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
The sudden intervention by the ‘Jagaban’ to end the strike without seeking clearance, had angered the presidency, thereby prompting Buhari to quickly call off his proposed visit to Tinubu’s home state, Lagos allegedly.
While reacting to Buhari’ s democracy day speech, through Sam Omatseye, the former Lagos State Governor berated Buhari for the myriad of problems confronting the nation.
He said: “Not Many thought the first year of Muhammadu Buhari would look like this. The pump price of petrol at 145, the naira at 350 to a dollar, not a single road tarred, the 2016 Budget in baby steps, no minister has received a tranche for work, salary backlogs now a routine, herdsmen as killer squads, Biafra on the rampage, Niger Delta brigands reborn, a Labour strike, the President has only visited one state on official trip, his plane has landed on four continents, the change mantra muted.
“Yet, if you go to the streets, there is no rage or less rage or impotent rage, but a sense of paralysis. The average Nigerian, including those who did not vote for Buhari, are not willing to pelt indignation. They feel poor, even poorer. Power that spewed out radiance in the first few months of his administration has returned to its habitual epilepsy. Jobs? Where are they? The welfare scheme and food for students? Not on the cards today”.
Explaining the hardship that an average Nigerian is passing through, Tinubu added, “Many cannot pay rents, many squeeze out meals, wards cannot face their principals for lack of fees.
“Patience is tested everywhere. Those who are asking for it, are also being asked for it. Yet, Buhari is Teflon, rising somewhat above popular anger.
“Much of it, ironically, can be attributed to Buhari himself. The people at the hem are not yet angry with the man at the helm”.
The APC chieftain affirmed that Buhari has only turned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, into a vault of revelations.
“This man stole that, that smaller man stole that bigger sum. The newspapers became headlines of statistical horror of billions of naira and dollar,” Tinubu mocked.
He added: “All the peacock men in the Jonathan era, who suffused us with righteous rhetoric, of brokered ethnicity and marketed shoelessness, have become the fingers of impunity or retreated into priestly or pastoral silences.
“Perhaps for the first time since independence, we have an elected president whose finger is not suspected of pecuniary mischief. He might have flown to Asia, Europe and the United States, and slept in the luxury of jets and high-flown hotels. He is not in any suggestion of a narrative of stealing.
“We also know that integrity is good, but no matter how good, it will not put food on the table. There lies the moral dilemma of the Buhari era so far”.
Post Nigeria
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