In a recent press conference, Bode George, former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on President Bola Tinubu to come out and disclose the true state of Nigeria’s economy to the public.
George emphasized the severity of the country’s challenges and the urgent need to address them.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s first year in office, George urged Nigerians to be patient, asserting that a single year is insufficient for a comprehensive evaluation of his administration. He noted that the current crisis has roots extending back to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2023.
“The Nigerian state almost collapsed because the eight-year era was probably the worst in Nigerian history since 1960,” George remarked. He suggested that Tinubu should not be solely blamed for the ongoing issues, as they had been brewing for years.
“We can still give the excuse that he had only done one year out of the four years, hoping that he is learning from the mistakes of the past. We’ve got to be fair to ourselves. He needs to learn the ropes,” George stated. He underscored that the first year in office is typically used to understand the system and that it is unfair to expect immediate results.
George also highlighted that Tinubu’s recent directive for ministers to present their scorecards is a step in the right direction. However, he cautioned against the blame game and urged collective efforts to uplift the nation.
“This crisis became complicated between 2015 and 2023 during the administration of my oga President Muhammadu Buhari,” he reiterated. George lamented the condition of the country post-Buhari era and criticized those defending the previous administration while blaming Tinubu’s government.
He concluded by calling for transparency and unity, stressing that Nigeria belongs to everyone, and through cooperation, the country can overcome its difficulties. “Tinubu should also come out and tell Nigerians the true position of things in the country. This is not the time to play party or regional politics. Nigerians have suffered enough and they want fast results,” George added.
