By Ajibike Olanrewaju
A frontline expert on public sector reforms, Prof. Remi Aiyede has given a damning verdict of why the nation’s economy remains comatose more than one year after the ascension of President Bola Tinubu into governance.
His words: “Tinubu is not in firm control of the economy. Based on the many contraditions, the trial and error measures and the not-well-thought-out policies of the incumbent Administration, he’s merely floating, I will say he’s not Navigating us to any known destination”.
Prof Aiyede, a lecturer in the Political Science Department of the University of Ibadan, submitted that the Federal government already took the left foot forward when it hurriedly pronounced removal of petroleum subsidy without putting in a place well-thought out and sustainable economic measures.
He spoke as Guest Speaker at the popular BOILING POINT ARENA, a monthly interview discourse on governance, hosted by a media professional, Dr Ayo Arowojolu.
He was paired by another highly respected economist, Dr Paul Alaje who also was a discussant and having as keynote Speaker, a frontline traditional ruler, the Gbegande of Ososa-Ijebu, Oba Adetoye Alatishe.
Prof. Aiyede criticized Tinubu’s economic policies as unorthodox and vision-less, decrying the many manifest inconsistencies and trial and error measures that have impacted negatively on the economy.
Prof Aiyede’s drift is captured below:
Hear him: “Tinubu really has to go back to the drawing board. What I see causing hardship to virtually all Nigerians is a government that is just floating. They are like Seamen and not Navigators. The seaman just want to float so that he can occupy office and enjoy the presence of the ship on sea whereas a navigator is supposed to lead the ship to a particular destination.
“I do not see this Tinubu Government taking Nigeria anywhere. The President has a reputation for primitive accumulation. All we know is that the President has a lifelong ambition to be President of Nigeria and that is all.
“What we have found out is that the Office of the President is being operated as a Dispenser of patronage. This is a tragedy. We cannot even meet the simple requirements of obtaining further loans in order to earn money from crude oil production because that has been mortgaged.
“We have a government that has muddled up everything with no responsiveness to issues. There is also no full disclosures on budgetary allocations and spendings.
“We have top players of the Administration on jamboree and the crop of leaders behaving as prodigals who care not about consequences of their actions while in office and their likely place in history.
“Our President should take a cue from what is happening in Kenya. The government must take the well-being of the people seriously. Tinubu should not wave off the agitations of our youths who are now more involved in the politics of issues.
“He should go beyond looking for omnibus solutions. He should keep his promises which ought to truly renew hope and not dash our hopes as we see it presently.”
