Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has expressed deep concerns over the current state of governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In an open letter titled “President Bola Tinubu, time is going,” Adams accused the government of being indifferent, insensitive, and unresponsive to the struggles of ordinary Nigerians.
Adams lamented that Nigerians are enduring severe economic hardship, which he attributes to poor leadership and misguided policies.
He noted that past leaders since 1960 have failed to manage the country’s vast resources effectively, leading to a history of disappointment for the people.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s promise of change during the 2023 elections, Adams stated that many Nigerians were hopeful that Tinubu, with his democratic background, would offer better leadership than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
However, Adams argues that these hopes have been dashed, citing a sharp increase in fuel prices and the depreciation of the Naira since Tinubu assumed office in May 2023.
He said: “We have no regret that we were created to inhabit this geographical space in the West African axis of the African continent.
“We are happy to be here because I don’t know any country in the world that God has blessed, in terms of natural and human resources, like Nigeria.
“Obviously, past leaders, since 1960, disappointed Nigerians with the way ‘Nigeria and Nigerians were badly led and resources selfishly managed’.
“When you came with the ‘Emilokan’ coinage in the build-up to the 2023 elections, many Nigerians were persuaded that as a democrat exposed to the modern way of governance, you will perform better than Muhammadu Buhari, a soldier who deepened the poverty levels of Nigerians and increased insecurity from 2015 to 2023.
“Today, events have proved that they were wrong. Mr President, to say the truth without minding whose ox is gored, you have disappointed many Nigerians who thought you were the messiah they were waiting for.
“The facts are there to speak for themselves. On May 29, 2023, when you became the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigerians, the price of a litre of fuel was less than N200.
“Today, it is more than N1000. As the Minister of Petroleum, I ask you, what type of reform is this? In May 2023, the Naira to a Dollar was less than N740. Today, it is more than N1,600.
“Now, your two right-hand men when you were Governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, Wale Edun (Finance Minister) and Yemi Cardoso (CBN Governor) are in charge of the economy.
“What exactly are the fiscal, economic and financial briefings they give you daily to convince you that they know what they are doing in those two offices?
“When Buhari left on May 29, 2023, many Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief that insecurity would soon become history.
“Pitiably today, from the North to the South, East to the West, the rate at which Nigerians are being abducted and some killed, even after ransom was paid, it was as if these blood-thirsty maniacs have just been unleashed on Nigerians from the hottest part of hell.
“As the Commander-in-Chief, the rising spate of insecurity across the country has put to question the kind of briefings you get daily, especially, from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Lagbaja, and other Security Chiefs on their modus operandi to send these killers to where they belong?
“In August, many Nigerians came out to express their frustration on the way you are governing them.
Today, some of those arrested have been charged with treason.
“In the comity of nations, who does that? Is that the way governments are overthrown, with placards?
“Human rights activists are being harassed by security agents daily and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, have become soft targets of sycophants who speak sweet words to your ears for selfish reasons.
“Many Nigerians know the ‘radical’ role you played when you were Governor, and even after 2007 when you galvanised and mobilised them to challenge the status quo at the national level.
“Now that you are in government, protest has suddenly become a criminal offence. God is indeed great. The plain truth is that the recent fuel price increase by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, an agency which is under your office as the Petroleum Minister, is an attack on Nigerians.
“Obviously, your administration is becoming indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plights of millions of Nigerians who can no longer meet their daily needs.
“This is a brutal assault on the sensibility of Nigerians. I think you and your party should be sensitive to the plights of Nigerians.
“Mr President, don’t you think the wicked and draconian increase in fuel price, especially, at this time that Nigerians have been pushed to the wall, is a huge recipe for crisis? Nigerians can no longer bear this economic hardship any longer.”
