Lagos Elder Statesman Urges President Tinubu to Combat Severe Hunger and Hardship in Nigeria

Lagos Elder Statesman Urges President Tinubu to Combat Severe Hunger and Hardship in Nigeria

By Bolaji Israel

Lagos-based politician and elder statesman, Chief Olabode George, has called on President Bola Tinubu to heed the cries of the masses and swiftly provide genuine solutions that extend beyond mere palliatives to address the severe hardships and hunger plaguing the nation under his administration.

George urged the President to review his economic policies, which he believes have not yielded satisfactory results for the general prosperity of Nigerians.

He made these remarks during a media session in Lagos on Thursday, where he described the state of the nation as being “in a political and economic intensive care unit.”

He stated, “Having been well-trained by this nation and having contributed to its development, it is my duty to speak out when things are not moving in the right direction. My great-granduncle, Papa Herbert Macaulay, was the first Nigerian politician. It is not about fighting but about expressing concerns.”

George emphasised that the nation is in a critical state and requires the right leadership and solutions to reverse the current trend of retrogression, as evidenced by widespread public disenchantment. “When a body is undergoing such turmoil, it is often between life and death, necessitating political and economic ‘surgeons’ who can provide fresh perspectives to navigate out of this crisis,” he added.

He criticized the current administration’s proposed solutions as “mendacious and destructive,” arguing that while crises exist worldwide, many countries are managing to cope effectively. In contrast, he lamented that many young Nigerians are struggling to afford meals.

George condemned the government’s strategy of mass food imports, calling it misguided. He suggested that funds used for importing expired food palliatives should instead be allocated to farmers through zero-interest loans, which would encourage local food production.

He advocated for subsidized fertilizers and support for farmers, dismissing the idea of mass food imports as a “Stone Age policy.”

He also addressed the issue of inflation, linking it to the high-interest rates that burden many citizens. He proposed consulting former and current bank CEOs in closed-door meetings to tackle the round-tripping practices that stifle the economy.

He called out the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso saying “Cardoso, must not fail because of his father’s pedigree as an accountant who did well.”

On the oil industry, George questioned the government’s stance on fuel subsidies and the Malta crude controversy, expressing confusion over the narrative presented by Aliko Dangote.

He criticized President Tinubu for selling crude oil, the nation’s primary source of foreign exchange, to a single individual, asking how the country would generate the necessary foreign currency to manage its mounting debt.

Describing the nation as stagnant and the populace as unhappy, he remarked, “What do we have to look forward to? Tinubu’s tenure will end in just over two years, and the people’s voices will determine his fate. I commend Nigerians for speaking out and protesting peacefully. If you believe they voted for you, then you must listen to them.”

George highlighted the need for effective communication between the government and the public, criticizing the lack of visibility of the Minister of Information. He noted, “If the government had been proactive in its communication, perhaps there would have been no protests.”

“How does the Government get feedback from the masses? It’s normal to protest. It’s a way to speak to government. Who is the Minister of Information? We dont hear him, unlike his predecessors. If he been working, maybe there would have been no protest, because that is the channel for communication. All kinds of people talking. We hear Onanuga blow his own from the Villa. Who is the voice of the government? That’s the gateway for communication. Did government just kept quiet or disappeared.”

He drew a comparison to the British electoral system, lamenting the inefficiency of Nigeria’s electoral process and holding the electoral commission accountable for its shortcomings.

Addressing the recent financial dealings involving Dangote and the Lagos State government, he questioned the transparency of the transactions and their impact on the local population.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg. My perception of how the oil sector is managed in our country is deeply disappointing. Aliko Dangote said he gave 100 million USD to Lagos State government to buy over the place in Lekki. Who are those who received the money? Or did government just grabbed the money and threw the people away from their environment? he asked.

“Mele Kyari, the NNPC boss just said something very worrisome, “that at the right time he would talk”. What right time? Rome is burning and emperor is sleeping,” he quipped.

He concluded with a call to action, stressing the urgent need to address youth restlessness and the violence stemming from it, reminiscent of past leaders who prioritized education as a means to empower young people. “Education makes people easy to govern but difficult to deceive,” he noted, urging the government to focus on the future of Nigeria’s youth.