By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Human rights lawyer Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN; a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Segun Sowunmi; and the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bashiru Ajibola, traded tackles in Ibadan,Oyo State, on Wednesday over the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
While Olu-Adegboruwa and Sowunmi criticised the policies of the president, Ajibola sharply disagreed with them, describing their criticisms as baseless and uncalled for.
To him, Tinubu has taken Nigeria out of the myriads of challenges it was in before the inception of his (Tinubu’s) administration on May 29,2024.
Speaking on the topic ‘The Tinubu Administration’s Economic Agenda and Policy: How Far So Far’ at an event which was part of activities marking the 70th Anniversary and Law Week of Ibadan branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olu-Adegboruwa and Sowunmi, as if in sync, said the consequences of Tinubu’s economic policies were mass poverty, mass suffering, inflation, ‘japa’ (brain drain abroad) syndrome and general sense of frustration, as against the Renewed Hope agenda promised by the government.
Olu-Adegboruwa also picked holes in general governance by the administration, contending that it done badly in other areas too.
He said: “If you go through APC constitution and manifesto, we have devolution of power. Look at how we have not been able to tackle restructuring, true federalism.
“Orosanye gave a report to say Nigeria is over-bloated. He made a suggestion that we either merge some of these agencies or scrap some of them.
“I’m suggesting that the president should take hold of the constitution and manifesto of his party and implement devolution of power and full restructuring; and secondly, focus on infrastructure.
“Most of our roads are bad. You can’t travel except you go by air; they should create enabling environment.
“There is no consistency in government policies. In appointment, for instance, some senators are being withdrawn on the floor of the Senate.
“They should focus on having independent judiciary. If you ask me ‘Tinubu’s administration, how far so far’, I will say we haven’t started anything at all.”
In his contribution, Sowunmi chided Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy on his first day in office, the day of his swearing-in “when there was no prior meeting with the stakeholders, including the organised labour, the civil society organisations, the NBA, etc.”
He added: “There was no clarity and direction of what the government was to do. They don’t know what they are doing. They just woke up and devalued us into poverty.
“Both the disbursing and receiving ends of their ‘mystery index’ are being handled by men from the South-West. The CBN, the Ministry of Finance, the Chief of Army Staff, the IGP, etc, all have Southerners at the helm. How unreasonable and how tribal is that?
“How long are we going to wait for economy to improve when the naira continues to be devalued and dollar is rising every day? Instead of keeping money in the banks, our people are keeping them in their private vaults; yet, you want the monetary policy to improve. How will it?”
In his turn to speak, Ajibola, also a lawyer, said Tinubu’s administration was not a socialist government as allegedly claimed by the duo, warning that critics should stop using the parameter of socialism to assess the administration.
His words: “You’re using a wrong marking scheme. It’s a very wrong assumption that Nigeria is a socialist society. Also Chapter 2 of the Constitution is talking about creating a social and equity system on a capitalist economy. Nigerians are living on self income level. As of today, the national minimum wage has been adopted and implemented.
“We are saying there’s serious issue of inflation in the country, and that is why the focus of the 2025 Budget, which is being presented today by the president, is targeted at reducing inflation. We’re embarking on massive infrastructure to achieve economic post-crediting for our people.
“The Calabar – Lagos coastal highway and in all over the country, a lot of infrastructure is being done. There’s inflation in the country, but we’re doing something about it.
“In terms of fiscal policy, there are provisions aimed at addressing the problems of inflation. We have allegations that there are no economic policies.
“Our economic policies are there. We have a unified money exchange rate, the backlog from forex debt that the country has had, has been settled. We made Nigeria an investment- friendly climate for people.
“Talking about fuel subsidy, the lecturer admitted that it’s a good policy. We would have been able to have a situation whereby we have an economy that discourages fraudulent manipulation of Nigeria people.
“Now, the increment in terms of revenue had jumped to 200 per cent in the last one year and there’s massive revenue for the government to settle the problem of poverty, insecurity, massive infrastructure and development.
“Although our economy is challenged, we believe with all the efforts put together, it will become a better economy.”
The session was chaired by a former Attorney-General and Justice Minister, Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, SAN, who was represented by Justice Bayo Taiwo.
Mudibau Adetunmbi moderated, while the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, commended the Ibadan NBA executive, led by Ibrahim Lawal, for doing the self-acclaimed premier bar proud.
