Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has expressed strong criticism of the economic policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing them as harmful to Nigerians.
In a statement released by his Executive Assistant on New Media, Mr. Felix Ofou, Oborevwori stated that the policies have caused widespread economic hardship, including severe poverty, unemployment, and inflation.
He argued that these conditions have turned Nigeria into the “poverty capital of the world.”
Oborevwori particularly targeted the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the floating of the Naira, which he claimed have worsened economic challenges. “Whatever gains the subsidy removal would have brought have been swallowed by Naira devaluation and galloping inflation,” he said.
The governor’s remarks were in response to comments by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, a former Deputy Senate President, who recently endorsed Tinubu’s policies.
Omo-Agege claimed the policies have increased federal allocations to states, improved economic growth, and boosted incomes for farmers. He further accused the Delta State government of mismanaging funds despite receiving significant revenue over the past 18 months.
Omo-Agege declared, “The President’s economic policies have led to increased federal allocation to state and local governments, rising economic growth rates, declining imports, higher exports, and higher incomes for farmers.”
“Despite the huge Federal allocation coming to Delta State due to Tinubu’s economic policies, there are no meaningful projects or development to show for it, despite the state government and local government Areas receiving over N900 billion over the last one year and six months.”
However, Oborevwori dismissed Omo-Agege’s claims, questioning the real value of increased federal funds amidst high inflation and widespread economic challenges. He criticized the suggestion that Delta should adopt such policies, saying they have brought “unparalleled hunger, mass poverty, and factory closures.”
Oborevwori asked, “Can we talk of increased money in any state in Nigeria? What is the worth of such money in the face of galloping inflation, gross devaluation of the Naira, unparalleled hunger, mass poverty, mass unemployment, daily closure of major factories and multinationals in the country?”
“Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have rightly stated that Tinubu’s economic policies are not working. The policies have transformed Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world, with over 130 million of the population living below the poverty mark.
“Tinubu’s economic policies have unleashed economic hardship on Nigerians and are not a desirable model for Delta State.
“Is this the model that Omo-Agege is recommending for Delta to copy? A model that has unleashed economic hardship on the people? Why would anyone recommend APC’s T-pain as a remedy to our woes? This is not a path desirable for Deltans and one they would want to embrace at this time.”
