The Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere, has voiced strong criticism of Nigeria’s economic situation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. During their quarterly meeting held in Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, and presided over by Deputy Leader Oladipo Olaitan, the group expressed disappointment, stating that the economic conditions have worsened since Tinubu took office.
In a communiqué released after the meeting, Afenifere highlighted the widespread hardship, hunger, insecurity, and unemployment afflicting the country, asserting that Nigerians are in a worse situation than they were a year ago. “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,” the communiqué stated.
The group also condemned what they described as reckless public spending by the Tinubu administration. They pointed to several expenditures as examples of wastefulness:
– $100 million (approximately N240 billion) for purchasing and $50 million to retrofit an Airbus A330 jet for the President.
– N950 million for each new armoured Cadillac Escalade Limousine SUV for the President.
– N21 billion for renovating a new mansion for the Vice President.
– N90 billion allocated as subsidies for religious pilgrimages.
– N10 billion to renovate the Presidential Lodge on Ribadu Road, Lagos.
Afenifere criticized these expenditures, arguing that they reflect a disregard for the nation’s financial challenges. Additionally, they expressed concern over the harassment of media professionals and called on the government to uphold Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of the press and expression.