Tinubu’s policies wipes out middle class as Yoruba group slams the president
Foremost Human Rights Lawyer Femi Falana has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his anti-human policies.
Falana, who has always been critical of bad governance criticised the president’s harsh economic reforms, describing them as “harsh neoliberal policies” which has successfully wiped out the country’s middle-class and jeopardised living conditions for millions of Nigerians.
This statement came after the president recently admitted the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, and his policies further deteriorated living conditions which have plunged the nation into serious economic crisis.
“I have seen the President ask APC governors to ‘wet the ground’ more, but as far as the masses of our people are concerned, things are getting tougher by the day because of the harsh economic crisis in the country, which the president recognises that Nigerians all over the country are complaining that things are getting tougher for them.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipes Out Middle Class
“Because of the religious implementation of neoliberal policies by the government, poverty is on the ascendancy. That will require a review of these policies,” he stated this on Monday’s edition of Channels Televisions’ Politics Today programme.
Falana, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, opposed the government’s privatization move, stating that it contradicts moves to tackle income disparity, adding that the Tinubu’s administration reconsider its priorities and provide targeted aid for vulnerable citizens, particularly those rural environments.
“You cannot be addressing income inequality in a country while handing over the nation’s resources to a few people in the name of privatisation.
The middle class has been wiped out by the neoliberal policies of the government.
“The government must go back to the drawing board and review each of these policies, especially those pushed by the IMF and World Bank, in the interest of Nigerians. It is in the interest of the government to review its policies as soon as possible,” he stated.
Since becoming Nigeria’s president in May 2023, Bola Tinubu has brought fore harsh economic reforms. Including currency liberalisation and the removal of fuel subsidies.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipes Out Middle Class
All his efforts to stabilise the country’s economy, the newly introduced policies have birthed a exorbitant cost of living, with inflation and hardship skyrocketing.
In particular, fuel subsidy removal catalysed the hiking of fuel price, prompting triple effects across all sections of Nigeria’s economy, stemming from exorbitant transport fares to high-cost of food prices and biting general inflation.
The SAN noted that there was need for swift implementation and legal backing of social welfare programmes to ease rampant hardship.
“To eradicate poverty, we must begin by implementing welfare laws,” he said, referring to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), which was codified under the Social Investment Programme Agency Act in 2023.
The NSIP is a federal initiative designed to reduce poverty through schemes such as N-Power (for youth empowerment), the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), a school feeding initiative, and conditional cash transfers to vulnerable households.
“President Tinubu should be able to persuade the governors to codify social investment programmes and enact them into law,” he said.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipes Out Middle Class
Yoruba Group Slams The President
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, a socio-political group, has slammed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government over the widespread of insecurity and deteriorating economic woes in the country.
In a statement issued by the group, through its Convener, Olusola Badero, as released by the group Home Director, Princess Balogun, the union alleged that the Tinubu’s administration is jettisoning its sole responsibilities to the citizenry.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration was criticised over the escalating insecurity and worsening economic hardship in the country. “Aso Rock is not his family house.”
The union also expressed deep concerns over the increasing level of hardship in the south west and alarming increase in the figure of children who are out of school.
“The South West, like other regions, is groaning under severe hardship,” the statement read.
“Families can barely afford food, and our schools are emptying out as parents struggle to meet basic needs. What hope is left for the common man?”
The Yoruba Union appeared to condemn the worsening security situation of the country, highlighting the recent abduction of seven farmers by suspected Fulani gunmen in Itaogbolu, Akure North LGA, Ondo State.
Badero stated how the gunmen invaded the community while the abductees were on their farm, launched a fierce attack on them and took them away.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipes Out Middle Class
Demanding swift reactions from the federal government, noting that Nigeria is for all citizens, and not to any individual or region.
“People voted for leadership, not monarchy. “It is time for the government to stop behaving as though the presidency is a family inheritance.”
“Imagine a country where people live from hand to mouth. Kidnappers demanded a ransom—initially N100 million—which was later reduced to N20 million. Yet, the victims could only manage to raise N5 million.
“They were eventually released in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, last Wednesday night after the kidnappers collected the N5 million and some food items,” the union said.
The socio-political group called the situation of the country ‘unfortunate’, slamming the Tinubu’s government for his failure to curb insecurity after having made enormous promises to tackle insecurity in the nation.
The group issued a piece of advice to the president not to contest in the 2027 elections, stating that his track records since becoming the president does not present him worthy be next Nigerian president.
“President Bola Tinubu should understand by now that Aso Rock is not his family home. Nigerians are tired of his gimmicks. His economic policies have crippled businesses and sent many to their early graves.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipes Out Middle Class
“People in the South West have not felt any positive impact from his leadership. Instead, they are faced with intimidation, harassment, and the arbitrary arrest of journalists and critics to suppress dissenting voices.”
Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá also raised the alarm over the infiltration of Kwara South by suspected Fulani gunmen, particularly in Ifelodun, Irepodun, Isin, and Ekiti local government areas.
“Kidnapping has become a lucrative business. Armed Fulani herdsmen with AK-47 rifles have taken over the South West, turning the region into a kidnapping hub.
“Despite Tinubu’s anti-people policies, our people can no longer sleep with both eyes closed. They are afraid to go to their farms or travel on major highways due to fear of attack by armed Fulani gunmen who strike at will.”
“Enough is enough. Nigeria is not a banana republic.
Human lives are sacred. Tinubu remains unconcerned and disconnected from the suffering of ordinary people. His only focus appears to be the 2027 elections.”
“As an organisation with presence across the globe, we condemn the current state of affairs and call on President Tinubu to forget about his 2027 ambition. No genuine and concerned son or daughter of the Yoruba race will vote for him again,” the union added.
Tinubu’s Policies Wipe Out Middle Class
