Lukman: Tinubu’s hurried policies have impoverished Nigerians

Salihu Lukman, a former vice-chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, says the “hurried” policies of President Bola Tinubu have impoverished citizens.

Lukman was reacting to calls from government agencies like the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Defence Headquarters (DHQ).

The security agencies have asked youths to shelve protests over the economic hardship in the country.

They warn that the protest could be hijacked by hoodlums.

In a statement on Sunday, Lukman said Tinubu has impoverished Nigerians in a year.

“Within one year, virtually everything has crashed, all due to the impatience of President Asiwaju Tinubu,” the former APC chieftain said.

“If President Asiwaju Tinubu has turned out to be an impatient leader who is in a hurry to implement policies that have impoverished citizens, why should citizens be patient with him?

“Here is a President Asiwaju Tinubu who even before settling down to resume work as President of the Federal Republic, declared an end to petroleum subsidy without any plan. At the same time, he proceeded to float the exchange rate of the Naira against other international currencies.

“For an import dependent nation, why should any leaders be in a hurry to implement such policies without having any plan to boost local production? In the case of withdrawal of subsidy, does it require any counseling to time such policy with ensuring capacity for local refining?

“With all the talk of fixing the four refineries in the country and the beginning of production activity by the Dangote refinery, why is President Asiwaju Tinubu in a mad rush and unable to align his policy initiatives with these expectations? Instead, needlessly, Nigerians watch the shameless criminal dispute between NNPC and Dangote Refinery.”

Lukman said having allegedly reduced the national assembly to a “rubber stamp”, Tinubu has “crashed all available democratic structures capable of enabling Nigerians to influence decisions of his government”.

“And in the face of all these, reckless illogical decisions such as expending more than N15 trillion Naira, more than half the annual budget of Nigeria is being expended on the 700-kilometer Lagos – Calabar coastal road,” he added.

“Billions have been expended to acquire Presidential Yachts, Presidential Jet, luxury vehicles for political leaders, and construction of Vice-Presidential Lodge.

“But the crisis of insecurity continues to ravage the nation. Crisis of education with more than 10 million out of school children in the north is never given any attention. Nigerian public hospitals have since degenerated from being consulting clinics to mortuaries.”

Lukman said the protest provides a good opportunity to recruit new political leaders for the country.