Follow Us on Google
- Wants president to prioritize people’s welfare, resolve fuel crisis
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Toyin Amuzu, a former House of Representatives candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration after its first year in office, declaring that Nigerians are facing economic hardship and a deteriorating security situation.
Speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Wednesday, Amuzu asserted that the current state of affairs under the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the most challenging in Nigeria’s history. He attributed this to rising insecurity, widespread poverty, economic hardship, and general despondency, which he believes have exacerbated the “Japa syndrome” among Nigerians, particularly the youth.
“Nigerians are greatly agonizing and suffering,” Amuzu stated, urging the president and other leaders to prioritize the well-being of the people and implement policies that alleviate their suffering.
Amuzu criticized the APC-led government’s performance over the past year, highlighting its “woeful” record. He urged President Tinubu, Governor Dapo Abiodun, and all political office holders in Ogun State to reflect on the state of the nation and implement workable economic plans that improve the welfare of Nigerians and the people of Ogun, respectively.
Despite the current challenges, Amuzu commended Nigerians for their resilience and urged them not to lose hope in democracy and Nigeria as a nation.
He specifically condemned the government’s recent policies, including the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira, which he believes have exacerbated the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
“The pains of the people are heightened by the not well thought-out twin anti-people policies of removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira without due consideration for the citizens’ welfare and security,” Amuzu said.
He highlighted the impact of these policies on everyday life, stating, “Our people now find it so hard to eat three-square meals while the Naira has greatly lost its value. Transport fare has gone up with the hike in fuel price, insecurity has worsened and it seems like, inflicting pain and misery on Nigerians remains the policy thrust of successive APC administrations in the country.”
Amuzu further criticized the government’s arbitrary hike in electricity tariffs and imposition of multiple taxes on already impoverished Nigerians, arguing that these measures have not been accompanied by tangible development or improvements in the welfare of the people.
“The consequences of these ill-thought and ill-implemented policies without any cushioning measures to mitigate the resultant rising cost and associated hardship on the masses have driven many into early death and extreme poverty,” he stated.
He pointed to the significant job losses, business closures, and socioeconomic dislocation caused by these policies, further exacerbated by the over 37% unemployment rate, inflation rate of over 33%, and over 200% devaluation of the Naira in the past year.
Amuzu concluded by expressing his belief that Nigerians have lost hope in the APC administration due to its lack of a workable economic plan to address the current crisis.
