The New Nigeria Peoples Party has urged President Bola Tinubu to seek guidance from former President Goodluck Jonathan to address Nigeria’s economic crisis.
This comes after the recent fuel price hike, which saw petrol prices rise to ₦1,030 from ₦897/litre in Abuja and ₦998/litre from ₦868/litre in Lagos.
According to reports, the retail stations of NNPC raised the price of petrol across various locations. The increase has sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
Reacting to the development, the National Secretary of the NNPP, Dipo Olaoyoku, expressed his concerns in an interview with The PUNCH.
He stated, “As far as Nigeria is concerned, nothing shocks us anymore. This present government has no iota of solution to the problem of this country. When there is a crisis in the country, and you have a government that only looks for the easy way out, it means that Nigeria is on a long journey.”
Olaoyoku specifically criticized President Tinubu’s swift removal of fuel subsidies on his first day in office, without understanding its extent and beneficiaries. He also lamented the floating of the naira, which has led to increased fuel prices due to Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel.
He said, “How can a president announce the removal of subsidy on his first day on the job without ascertaining the extent of the subsidy and the people receiving it? Within the same week, you announced the floating of the naira. At that time, Nigeria was solely dependent on imported fuel, with the prices being determined by the naira.”
Olaoyoku believes the current administration lacks ideas and competent appointees, leaving Nigerians to suffer.
Olaoyoku stated, “This government is bereft of ideas. Unfortunately, if you look at the people he has appointed into offices, you cannot identify a competent one among them. I just pity Nigerians. After surviving the hurricane of Buhari, see what Nigeria has been reduced to. It is catastrophic. This government has no compassion for any Nigerian.”
Furthermore, Olaoyoku decried that rather than recruit technocrats from different walks of life, President Tinubu surrounded himself with his political friends and associates.
He suggested that unless President Tinubu seeks help from experienced leaders like Jonathan, who maintained a stable naira-to-dollar rate at ₦200 before the APC took office, the masses will continue to suffer.
He said, “Again, they can beg Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for help on how he was able to retain the rate of the naira to the dollar at ₦200 before the APC came on board. Let them go and beg him.”
The NNPP’s call for President Tinubu to seek guidance from former President Jonathan highlights the need for effective leadership and economic expertise to address Nigeria’s challenges.