10/06/2023
TINIBUCRACY: Inheriting a Broken Country
Written Pascal Nnamdi
As I sat before the 21 inches television in my work place, a week ago, watching the inaugural speech of our president, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, I couldn't help but shook my head in pity as I sympathized with the president, especially when he made that infamous statement that has turned out to be a full pack of pain and tragedy to Nigerian masses. 'Fuel subsidy is gone' he said.
Tinubu had barely sat on that exalted presidential seat, his lifelong ambition, when the masses began to be tortured by the cruel pangs of that statement. The Tinubu's 'fuel subsidy is gone' utterance became an inglorious piece of narrative that invariably set the tone for his presidential sojourn of four or eight years, as the case may be. But some have argued that, it is still early to predict the end from this seeming awful beginning.
While the masses languish in pain, some Nigerians, in defense of the new policy, opined that, fuel subsidy removal is the best gift Tinubu's administration has graciously offered to Nigerians. The proponents of this view hinge their opinion on the notion, that Tinubu inherited a shattered government and was bound to make the audacious announcement. Like Jideofor Adibe, an ace columnist wrote: '...the challenges before the Tinubu government are enormous at a time the economy is comatose. And the options available to him are more like the Devil’s alternative: whichever option he embraces, there will be unpalatable consequences – at least in the short run.'
Personally, I consider the removal of fuel subsidy a good policy. But for a new administration, grappling with legitimacy crisis, I think it was a wrong step in the right direction. A lot ought to have been sorted out before the announcement. In my candid opinion, President Tinubu, placed the cart before the horse. Misplaced priority!
It is no longer news that Nigerians are suffering. It has been a trekking galore in Maraba Nyanya this morning, as Keke riders have gone on strike, in protest against the 300% fuel price hike, an offshoot of the subsidy removal. But the government can invent some critical interventions aimed at alleviating the current hardship in the land.
The Tinubu administration as a matter of urgency, should begin to review the current minimum wage as it has proven not to reflect the current realities we are faced with.
*****To be continued ****
