From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Amid the biting economic crisis in Nigeria, the National Association of Seadogs, Pyrates Confraternity, NAS/PC has reprimanded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the 36 state governors and the political class for not doing enough to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.
It has therefore advocated for urgent taming of insecurity and sweeping agricultural reforms from the Federal Government and the various state governments to salvage the situation.
The NAS Capoon, Mr Abiola Owoaje in a press statement entitled: The Spectre of Hunger in Nigeria: Enough of the Grandstanding by the Political class”, while noting that that the organisation stand with Nigerians in this ‘’period of national emergency’’ said the protests against economic hardship by Nigerians across the country was because they have been at the “receiving end of the economic decisions of the President Tinubu administration and the several rudderless policies and programmes of the 36 states governors which has not been of any benefit to the people and have plunged several of our compatriots into penury.’’
Owoaje who recalled NAS/PC’s open letter to President Tinubu on the 2023 Independence Day celebration on the adverse effects of insecurity, subsidy removal and foreign exchange unification on Nigerians reiterated that the economic policies of the Tinubu administration are hurting Nigerians.
Though he acknowledged series of meetings between the Federal and state governments on one hand and the setting up of the economic advisory council on the other hand as part of efforts to stem the tide, he pointed out that the political class with President Tinubu at the apex need to move fast to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.
According to him President Tinubu should follow his pronouncements to the latter by ensuring that steps towards state police and agricultural reforms become reality.
“‘Now is the time for President Tinubu to walk the talk. His promise to further boost food production through aggressive mechanisation should not just be empty talk. Nigerians expect him to pursue governance with the same vigour he deployed in the realisation of his presidential ambition.
“Agricultural initiatives like the Anchor Borrowers Programme that have been fraught by loan repayment hiccups and official corruption should be reviewed for efficiency. The complaints by All Farmers Association of Nigeria that several beneficiaries of the scheme are not farmers should be addressed. Nigeria can no longer afford laudable schemes being sabotaged by supervisory government officials and the political class.’’
He berated state governors for not taking advantage of increased revenue accrued to them since subsidy removal to better the lot of the people, adding that the crippling of the local government system in most states and lack of clear strategy for food sufficiency at the sub-national levels is a recipe for disaster.
Owoaje challenged the various state governments to shake off their complacency in public policy formulation and work for the people.