Lagos, Nigeria – Pastor Tunde Bakare, wey be former presidential aspirant and presiding overseer of Global Community Citadel Church for Lagos, don raise alarm say Nigeria fit experience popular revolt if President Bola Tinubu no change im government style on security and economy.
During him Easter State-of-the-Nation message for Ikeja, Bakare talk say killings dey increase for Plateau, Benue, and Enugu, which dey push the country to the edge. Na from motor-park politics wey im say old brigade politicians and Tinubu dey promote that wahala dey come from.
“Fellow citizens, the people wey dey lead us no get the humility and character wey this time require,” Bakare talk. “From January, na im we don dey see descent into tyranny and power abuse.”
Im wey don argue against Tinubu for APC presidential ticket back in 2022, talk say the economic frustration wey come from fuel subsidy removal, naira valuation decline, and inflation dey push citizens to the edge. Although inflation drop to 23.18 percent for February after wey e reach 28-year highs for 2024, food prices dey high still.
The naira, wey be N460/$ before the exchange rate unification, dey swing around N1,500 now. Companies like Diageo and Unilever don dey exit Nigeria because of forex scarcity and economic issues.
Last year, food price increase cause deadly stampedes as people rush charity food giveaways. The World Bank talk say over one million Nigerians don fall into serious food insecurity within the past one year. Bakare don describe the stampede deaths wey happen in 2024 for different cities as the most horrific peak of our economic pressures.
“Reports of parents wey throw their children over fence for Ibadan to collect food shows how serious this situation don reach,” Bakare lament. For Plateau State alone, over 120 people don die through shootings, hacking, and burning since April start, according to Amnesty International. Relief groups dey talk say plenty more people don suffer after coordinated attacks leave over 3,000 displaced.
For Benue State, at least 56 people don die after raids wey people blame armed herders for. Bakare quote Financial Times report from July 2024 wey accuse Tinubu of allowing naira fall freely, fuel imported inflation, and push many Nigerians deeper into poverty.
“We dey reach the point wey citizens fit revolt if government no do something fast,” Bakare sieze talk. “People wey get faith don pray tire, and e be like say prayer don turn to mere ritual without action.”
Bakare also criticize Tinubu on how im don turn National Assembly to “a haven for legislative rascality,” urging the President to fire underperforming advisers and bring in people wey dey reputable.
“No man fit get unlimited power, Mr. President,” Bakare warn Tinubu. “Nigeria dey too delicate for this kind of politics.” He talk say Nigeria’s foreign reserves don rise from $35 billion in May 2023 to $40 billion by November 2024, but those achievements no fit cover the larger challenges wey dey face the country.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto also join the conversation during him Easter Vigil message, wey call for urgent action from Tinubu. He liken the situation for Nigeria to Christ’s crucifixion, saying the nation dey face hunger, insecurity, and moral decay.
“Mr. President, Nigeria dey reach breaking point,” Kukah lament. “You no create the problems, but now na your responsibility to lead us towards healing.” Kukah don dey challenge Tinubu to make food security a basic human right and to act against the persistent violence and kidnapping wey dey occur.
The Presidency don respond to Bakare, talk say although dem no agree with everything wey im talk, dem respect im right of opinion. For social media, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, say Bakare’s message dey objective, even though there be differences.
The House of Representatives don say dem go respond to Bakare’s criticisms in due time. Meanwhile, the Rivers State government don describe Bakare’s comments as instigation, saying dem go focus on deliver on their mandate instead of responding to Bakare’s words.
