Former Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Faroumbi, emphasized the urgency for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reveal the extent of the economic devastation inherited from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Faroumbi stressed that Nigerians are enduring immense hardships, prompting Tinubu to disclose the full scale of the damage left behind by Buhari’s administration. He expressed these sentiments during an interview on the “State of the Nation” program on Fresh FM radio.
He maintained, “Anytime I read his maiden speech, I see the good progressive intentions of what he wants to achieve. Of course, you can’t achieve that in twelve months but we want to be sure we’re already on the path.”
“When someone has a fracture and you tell him I’m going to heal you without pain; you are a liar. Nigeria’s economy is fractured and we know we have to be healed with some measures of pain but we want to know how long that pain will last; what kind of treatment we are going to have and what direction are we taking.”
“But, I have seen something that characterizes this government and that is somersaulting of policy decisions. I get worried about our decision making.”
“He (Tinubu) gives the impression of a President that listens but in my study of leadership, a leader must be able to take a painful decision if he’s sure. So, when a leader begins to flip-flop, I get worried.”
“Buhari has ruined the economy but they (Tinubu administration) are afraid to say it clearly. That’s the truth. They (Buhari’s administration) have sold crude oil up to four or five years and have received the money and spent it.”
“We appreciate the difficulties that Tinubu is going through but he has to tell the people so that they would understand it’s not Tinubu that is foolish or doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
“He (Tinubu) said I’m going govern people with compassion but they suddenly realized that the last administration had spent crude oil money.”
“They don’t want to tell the people this is the reality of the problem they have and that we have to make sacrifices and part of the sacrifices is that we are not going to import because if we reduce our import, dollar will fall.”
“But, they are shying away from telling us the reality of what they found on the ground and so in trying to be progressively humane, he finds himself doing things that will hurt and harm the people and make him absolutely unpopular to the people. I feel for him.”
