The socio-political organization, Afenifere, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, accusing it of showing insufficient empathy towards the “agony and distressing state of the nation” currently endured by Nigerians.
Following a meeting held at the residence of its leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, Afenifere expressed disappointment with the Federal Government’s response, which the group described as detached from the “pervasive hardship, unflagging insecurity, and incapacitating hunger” facing Nigerians.
The group argued that recent government policies, including the recent fuel price hike, appear to add to the struggles of ordinary citizens. They highlighted these concerns in a communiqué signed by Afenifere’s Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and Deputy Secretary-General, Alade Rotimi-John, which was shared with The PUNCH on Thursday.
The statement read, “Afenifere reviewed the unremitting distressing state of the nation’s social and economic situation under the President Bola Tinubu administration.”
The communiqué further noted, “The distressful condition of the country is exemplified in pervasive hardship, unflagging insecurity, and incapacitating hunger. The meeting noted the absence of official empathy respecting the people’s agonizing situation.”
According to Afenifere, this detachment is evident through policies that seemingly worsen the citizens’ woes. “Meeting has instead observed an unwearying policy enunciation ostensibly aimed at compounding the woes of the people, e.g., the unabating fuel price hike.”
The group also criticized what it described as a “cavalier conduct of state affairs,” pointing to a lack of a clear or effective program from the administration to ease the hardship. “Meeting further observed the absence of any coherent or unequivocal programme on the part of the government and its party,” Afenifere stated.