The Pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, has voiced its deep concern over what it describes as the nation’s near collapse since President Bola Tinubu’s administration took the reins of power.
In a communique issued by the Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan, and Deputy Secretary General, Alade Rotimi-John, following the regular quarterly meeting held on 27th August 2024 at Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, Afenifere maintained that the current state of the nation has left the populace bewildered.
Afenifere noted that Nigerians are gravely troubled by the widespread hardship, crippling hunger, persistent insecurity, rampant inflation, and soaring unemployment—all of which have left the people in a worse condition than they were at the outset.
The group further criticised the government’s reckless, obstinate, and indifferent attitude towards the long-term consequences of its lack of foresight or purpose in managing public revenue.
Afenifere also lamented the Tinubu administration’s tendency towards wasteful expenditure, citing the purchase of an Airbus A330 for the President at the cost of $100 million or N240 billion, and an additional $50 million for retrofitting, as unnecessary.
Moreover, Afenifere highlighted the purchase of a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs for the President at N950 million each, N21 billion for renovating a new mansion for the Vice President, N90 billion as subsidy for religious pilgrimages, and N10 billion for renovating the Presidential Lodge on Ribadu Road, Lagos, among other expenditures, as indicative of the administration’s wasteful nature.
“Afenifere is scandalised by the disgrace and poor international image that have resulted from these extravagant expenditures. We are baffled that a government could be so adept at employing diversionary tactics to lull the populace into a false sense of security, only to confront them with grave national challenges and a continuous debate over its erratic approach to governance,” the group stated.
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