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Afenifere to Tinubu: Nigerians worse off than you met them

Afenifere: Beyond Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Pa Reuben Fasoranti

Afenifere

Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has expressed disappointment at the current economic state of the country, especially since the assumption of office by President Bola Tinubu.

The group lamented that the Tinubu-led administration in one year has left Nigerians worse off than they were at the beginning.

This was stated in a communiqué issued at the end of its quarterly meeting presided over by the Deputy Leader, Oladipo Olaitan, held on Tuesday at Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State.

Read also: Money supply hits record high of N106trn in July

Afenifere, while maintaining that the country is troubled by pervasive hardship, hunger, insecurity, and massive unemployment, noted that the present administration lacked the forethought and insight regarding the handling of public funds.

The group also objected to the present harassment of media professionals while performing their jobs and urged the government to familiarise itself with Section 39 of the Constitution, which protects the freedom of the press and expression.

The communique reads: “Afenifere noted that the Nigerian people are sorely troubled by the pervasive hardship, crippling hunger, unremitting insecurity in the land, runaway inflation, massive unemployment, etc. all of which have left the people worse off than they were at the beginning.

“Afenifere also observed the reckless, obstinate and indifferent attitude of the government to the long-term effects of the lack of forethought or purpose regarding the handling of the public revenue.

Afenifere rued some of the Tinubu administration’s profligate predilection or inclination to waste resources, viz.

(a) $100m or N240 billion as purchase price for an Airbus A330 as jet for the President and a further $50m to retrofit it.

(b) N950m each as purchase price of a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs as befitting vehicles for the President.

Afenifere rued some of the Tinubu administration’s profligate predilection or inclination to waste resources, viz.

(a) $100m or N240 billion as purchase price for an Airbus A330 as jet for the President and a further $50m to retrofit it.

(b) N950m each as purchase price of a new set of armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUVs as befitting vehicles for the President.

Temi Bamgbose is a new-generation media professional who has an intimate understanding of new and emerging media communications elements. He possesses a degree in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the University of Ibadan. He holds a Diploma in Electrical Electronics Engineering from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and a Journalism Diploma from the London School of Journalism. His career as a multimedia journalist saw him working with several online news platforms including The Punch -- the most widely read Nigerian newspaper -- where he won, along with his team of two, the 2017 season of the Global Editors Network NAN Editors Lab innovation competition. Temi has also worked with a number of public relations agencies. He also worked extensively on communications accounts of multinational brands. He is a wildlife conservation enthusiast.

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