Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a notable member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed dissatisfaction with the current administration’s handling of Nigeria’s worsening economic situation.
Eze’s comments underscore the increasing apprehension about the trajectory of the country’s economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership.
Eze criticized President Tinubu and his cabinet for their inability to find a viable solution to the nation’s ongoing crisis. He noted that the Nigerian economy is in a continuous downturn, with the Naira’s value falling against other major currencies, pushing the country towards an economic crisis.
The APC leader pointed out the severe effects of the currency’s devaluation, including soaring prices for food and essential goods, resulting in widespread hunger and malnutrition among the people. Eze expressed his sorrow at the evident despair among Nigerians, many of whom are struggling to afford even a single meal a day.
Despite the severe economic conditions, which have labeled Nigeria as the “world’s poverty capital,” Eze was surprised at some analysts’ endorsement of Tinubu’s policies. He argued that while the policies might be theoretically sound, the disregard for the intricate dynamics of policy implementation has led to a significant gap between the government’s intentions and the actual results.
Eze also addressed a recent statement by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who alleged that politicians unhappy with the 2023 election results were planning to destabilize Nigeria. Eze dismissed Shettima’s claims as insignificant, arguing that Tinubu’s administration has shown no real dedication to tackling the nation’s problems, focusing instead on the prestige of the presidency.
Eze stated, “The harmful effects of persistent poverty have become a reality under his administration, and these are his main legacies. There seems to be no efforts by the current administration to address the country’s economic issues, and if there are, he said, it means such efforts are not sufficient. Blaming patriots who are privately brainstorming ways to help the country is, to say the least, shortsighted.
“I find the reasons given by some of our leaders and scholars for our current food crisis amusing. They failed to identify insecurity as the primary cause of Nigeria’s current economic troubles. Where do we get the food to eat when most of the farmers in both the North and Southern parts of this country, particularly those in the North Central, are now in the IDP Camps, leaving their farms in the hands of herders?
“We are deceiving ourselves by claiming that we don’t have enough food to feed the population. Which part of Nigeria is safe or secure for regular farming activities to take place? This is the reality. Our problem is human-made, yet we are expecting God to send us manna from Heaven as he did to the people of Israel who had no means of farming when God sent them manna.”
Eze emphasized that in addition to insecurity, another significant cause of Nigeria’s current woes was the President’s inability to foresee the consequences of removing the oil subsidy, which he had highlighted in 2012. However, he was swept away by his election victory and announced the removal of the oil subsidy without a proper study and provision to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
