By Ayo Arowojolu
Welcome to today’s Nigeria!
At the 8th Edition of BOILING POINT ARENA, a monthly online interview discourse on governance and nation building, held in June 2023, the topic: ” TINUBUNOMICS and The Removal of Fuel Subsidy- Which Way Nigeria?” was robustly debated.
Three eminent Guest Speakers who doubled as Discussants on the interview show held via Google Meet and live broadcast on a radio station, SWEET 107.1FM, Prof Farooq Kperogi, Mr Chikezie Nwosu and Imam Nojeem Jimoh robustly debated the kind of economy operated by the nation’s current helmsman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which they tagged Tinubunomics with particular referencing of the consequential implications of the removal of petroleum subsidy.
First to fire the salvo was Prof Farooq Kperogi who gave a forecast of where TINUBUNOMICS was headed for Nigeria. Hear him: “ The government has pauperised the entire populace and have weaponized wickedness against Nigerians due to arbitrary decision to remove subsidy on petroleum overnight and the consequence is that our people are going back to living in stone age .”
Not long after that, another informed columnist and writer, Reuben Abati, also raised questions and expressed serious worries in his write-up in Premium Times in October, titled: ” Tinubunomics: Matters Arising President Bola Tinubu “
Abati had asked: ” How is the Nigerian economy faring under Tinubu, five months after assumption of office? Are we better today than we were under President Muhammadu Buhari?..The President’s campaigners sold the narrative that Tinubu turned Lagos around, increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), built infrastructure, and mastered political engineering. Reminded again and again that Lagos is not Nigeria, Tinubu’s strategists told us not to worry. They talked about the possibility of hope being restored. So, today, we ask: How market? How is it going five months down the line? “
It has suddenly dawned on Nigerians that Tinubunomics is appearing forlorn especially considering the stark reality that the Tinubu Administration might is just about two months close to its first year anniversary, amid pain, sorrow, hunger, hardship and untold sufferings for the populace.
The 17th Edition of BOILING POINT ARENA billed to hold on Sunday March 10, 2024 promises to be another exciting session where popular columnist and communication scholar, Prof Farooq Kperogi and seasoned economist, Dr Titus Olowokere are set to brainstorm on the gale of hunger and hardship currently ravaging Nigerians with possible prescriptions of how the nation can come out of the pang.
The popular monthly interview discourse is the platform for the discussion scheduled for a two-hour duration from 8pm holding via Zoom and to be transmitted live on Sweet 107.1FM.
The topic of discourse is: ” Nigeria in the Throes of Hardship, Hunger and Economic Realities – What Are The Quick Fixes and Sustainable Solutions? “
The duo are to offer perspectives into how Nigeria’s economy got into this present sorry pass which is a fallout of the removal of oil subsidy, the grossly devalued Naira, increasing prices of food items and how the government can navigate a way out of the economic mess.
An award-winning Author and Writer, Kperogi is a Professor of Journalism and Emerging Media at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia, USA while Dr Olowokere is President and Chief Executive Officer of the United States-Nigeria Trade Council based in Atlanta.
The once-in-a-month current affairs programme, with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of the Initiator and Convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 34 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.
This particular edition of Boiling Point Arena is the 17th such installment since the programme debuted in November 2022.
A foremost traditional ruler, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola, is expected to deliver the keynote address to herald the discourse, in his capacity as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.
According to a statement by the Chairman, Organizing Committee for the programme, Mr Eddy Ademosu, the interview discourse will in particular revisit the several causative factors that have pinned down Nigeria’s economy in a retrogressive trend ever since the boom Era of General Gowon.
Mr Ademosu commended the Management of Sweet FM, chaired by the Promoter, Senator Olugbenga Obadara for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach through its terrestrial and online channels
BOILING POINT, a news and general interest platform comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 Professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.
