The President of the Ebonyi Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, has slammed President Bola Tinubu’s administration, stating that it has performed worse than his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Ezeh criticized the sudden removal of petrol subsidy, which he believes has further fragile economy.
To address the economic crisis, Ezeh advises Tinubu to reconstitute his cabinet with competent individuals and take a cue from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s playbook, who successfully turned around a stagnant economy, according to NijaNews.
He warns that if drastic measures are not taken, the current suffering poses a serious socio-political threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Ezeh’s comments come as many Nigerians are struggling with the economic challenges facing the country.
His call for a government of national unity and a “War Cabinet” to address the economic crisis has sparked debate among political analysts and stakeholders.
Speaking with journalists in Enugu on Monday, the Labour Party chieftain said, “The current president promised to continue from where Buhari left off, and he is indeed making efforts to fulfil that promise. However, it’s essential to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned from waiting for competence to emerge. We spent eight years waiting for Buhari’s tenure to end, only to find ourselves facing an even deeper nightmare.
“President Tinubu began his administration on somewhat shaky ground, falling into what economists call ‘announcement effects’ with his initial policy moves. While many Nigerians wanted an end to the subsidy conundrum, they also desired a well-thought-out process, shared vision, and collective understanding of the pains involved in reform. Unfortunately, the abrupt removal of subsidies without adequate communication will likely haunt this administration throughout its tenure.”
He continued, “Leadership should involve guiding citizens through the dark nights of necessary reforms. The suffering, tone-deafness of political class, rampant corruption, and debilitating economic challenges are adversities that may ultimately unite Nigerians.
“President Tinubu has an opportunity to revisit President Obasanjo’s playbook. Obasanjo faced a completely stagnant economy but rallied the best minds from all walks of life. Within a few years, Nigeria bounced back. We have abundant human and material resources; what we urgently need is a government of national unity.
“Such a cabinet should comprise 35 per cent technocrats, 45 per cent politicians, and 20 per cent bureaucrats drawn from every corner of Nigeria. In fact, President Tinubu could benefit from assembling a ‘War Cabinet’ to address our current economic crisis effectively.”
