When Tinubu Started, He Said Subsidy Is Dead, You Can Protest as Much as You Like – Afenifere
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere criticized President Bola Tinubu for not addressing the main concerns of the nationwide hunger protest, as reported by Daily Trust.
Prince Justice Fakiyesi, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere loyal to Acting Leader Chief Ayo Adebanjo, stated that it was regrettable that Tinubu is persisting with policies that are detrimental to the masses, particularly by maintaining the fuel subsidy.
Fakiyesi argued that Tinubu’s recent speech did not solve the issue of hunger in the country. He contended that merely calling for dialogue would not make a significant difference and blamed the President’s neoliberal economic policies—specifically the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira as the causes of the current problems.
Fakiyesi emphasized that Tinubu’s unwavering stance on these policies demonstrated a lack of remorse and an unwillingness to change. He pointed out that such economic policies have failed in many countries and stated that Tinubu was likely pressured into making his speech.
Fakiyesi also criticized Tinubu for labeling the protests as politically motivated, recalling that Tinubu had called for protests during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration under similar circumstances.
In his words: “I think he was pushed to read the speech because it was not a matter of dialogue or him addressing people about the exact policy that brought hunger and since he is not willing to reverse or accept responsibility, because he more or less said it was politically motivated.
“When he started and he said specifically that subsidy is dead, he said you can protest as much as you like. He said that. He knew that his policies were going to bring protest. At his age he knows that there have been all sorts of protests against subsidy removal.
“It is the same thing that happened under former President Goodluck Jonathan and he (Tinubu) called for a revolution or protest and when he is facing the same thing and even worse, he is blaming other people….See_More
