Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei mni shared the thoughts of many Nigerian Leaders of thoughts and other notable human rights activists, religious, traditional, political, and community leaders that the country is at a tipping point, on a time bomb, and verge of explosion.
According to him despite the huge opportunities and potentials that the country is abundantly blessed with, Nigeria is currently tottering through a mosaic of life-threatening challenges that have over the years become so potent and widespread to the extent of eroding the country’s structural base while its continued survival is at serious stake.
The Non-Serving Senator who is a member of the All Progressives Congress and worked round the clock to that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu win the 2023 Presidential election said any concerned Nigerian should lend their voices in the worsening insecurity and challenging economic terrain, which conspired to push millions of Nigerians into the snare of multi-dimensional poverty and food insecurity.
“With the unending social and economic crises and Nigeria’s fast descent into anarchy, it has become expedient for me to address you today and share my concerns as a patriot and offer my candid views on how to address these potentially dangerous challenges.
It is no longer news that Nigerians are witnessing adverse hunger, spiraling inflation, insecurity, high crime rate, and senseless devaluation of our national currency amongst a bevy of existential challenges.
“As a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who has contributed immensely to its electoral victories since 2015, I am worried at the current situation despite the concerted efforts by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ameliorate it. I’m still confident that the President feels the pains Nigerians are going through and feels bothered. I am equally optimistic that he is working round the clock to bring an end to this challenging moment in the shortest period, particularly in keeping to the promise of making lives better for Nigerians.” Girei
Girei during a Press conference at his Yola residence told Journalists that Nigerian leaders should do their best in proffering immediate and concrete actions to stem the tide.
“Without mincing words, I want to say with all sense of honesty that we will need to up our game as a party and government to address the current situation proactively.
“A cursory look at the living conditions when APC took power in juxtaposition to the realities of today will reveal that Nigerians are at the short end of the bargain as life is becoming short and brutish.” He further stated
He continued to say that the looting of our common wealth leading to subsidy removal and forex liberalization are the major underlying factors behind the hardship and inflation we are witnessing today.
He however commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for doing his best, not sleeping on the matter, and will bring up a lasting solution that will cushion the effects of the current challenges.
He shifted blame for the country’s woes as the consequences of bad leadership, especially in the last 12 years of her democratic journey.
He revealed that in the last twelve years was ruled with blithe regard to the rule of law, the leadership space was infiltrated by greedy scammers and charlatans who engaged in open and documented frauds through all sorts of schemes including Forex arbitrage, round-tripping, phantom subsidy payment claims, oil bunkering and direct theft of public funds through illegal tax waivers and ways and means.
“In a brazen manner, the NNPCL for years stopped contributing to FAAC on account of spending all its earnings in the payment of phantom subsidy claims which professionals and even industry analysts dismissed as a scam.
In the face of the irresponsible leadership of the last 12 years, several Nigerians sounded warning signals to the effect that the country is being led to its untimely grave but these patriots were ignored and in some instances vilified, reviled, embarrassed, and even humiliated. A case in point was the 14th Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi II who was dethroned and humiliated for daring to speak truth to power.
“The administrations which turned deaf ears to the critical concerns of Nigerians saw to the destruction of all the remaining relics and legacies of our founding fathers, that were still standing in Nigeria and left a dead country waiting to be interned which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited.” He said
“I want to start by commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his latest effort in finding solutions around the issues of hunger and inflation by convening a meeting with relevant stakeholders to at least cushion some of the real concerns of Nigerians at these distressing times. By this, he has shown that he is a listening president. I’m happy that we now have a president that is living up to his responsibilities not one who is living in denial.” He added
Girei while proffering solutions to the myriad problems of the nation, kicked against the unnecessary dollarization of NNigeria’seconomy by those in the corridors of power at the national and sub-national levels. Given the dollar a lot of premium to the extent of making it the most acceptable legal tender which is sad, unacceptable, and must be stopped.
“The government should ensure that all indicted public servants face litigation to account for the roles they played in aiding and abetting corruption. The National Assembly should also queue behind the president by coming up with appropriate legislation including capital punishment against those who perpetrated heinous economic and financial crimes in the country.” He said
