EX-Head Of State, Yakubu Gowon, Reacts As Hardship Worsens; SEE Unexpected Action He Told Nigerians To Take
Nigeria is facing many challenges in different sectors, such as security, economy, health, education, and infrastructure. These challenges are not new, but inherited from previous administrations. Therefore, it is unfair to expect the current government, led by President Bola Tinubu, to solve them all in a short time. This is the view of retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon, who met with Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday in Abuja. Mr Gowon, who was Nigeria’s head of state from 1966 to 1975, urged Nigerians to be patient and supportive of the president’s efforts. to address the country’s problems.
Mr Gowon said he told Mr Tinubu that every Nigerian leader faces criticism and scrutiny from the public and the media, but that does not mean they are not doing their best. He said he advised the president to ignore the negative comments and focus on his vision and plans for the nation. “I was explaining to him that no Nigerian leader can avoid hearing what people say about them. It’s clear from what we hear and see in the media that the government is making an effort to address the country’s issues. Criticism is inevitable, but those in power are usually more informed than outsiders. Nigerians should be patient and allow the President enough time to accomplish his goals; it’s premature to expect perfect results immediately.” Mr Gowon said.
He added that the president has shown commitment and determination to tackle the challenges, especially in the areas of security and regional integration. He said the president has been working closely with the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to ensure peace and stability in the subregion. Being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS, I believe it’s necessary for us to deliberate on his proposals to find solutions to the issue at hand, Mr Gowon said.
He also clarified that he did not snub an event organised by ECOWAS, as some social media reports suggested. He said there was a miscommunication that prevented him from attending, but that the president later called him and Invited him for a meeting. He stated, While there may have been a communication mishap, it did lead to a fortuitous opportunity for the President and me to discuss my potential contributions.”
Mr Gowon’s appeal for patience comes at a time when Nigeria is facing one of its worst economic crises in years. The country is struggling with a currency crisis, soaring inflation, power outages and food shortages, and widespread poverty. These factors have provoked nationwide outrage and protests among Nigerians who are suffering from the hardship and the high cost of living.
One of the main drivers of the economic
crisis is the depreciation of the naira,
Nigeria’s currency, which has hit an all-
time low against the U. S. dollar on both
the official and parallel foreign exchange
markets. The naira has lost around 70%
of its value since May 2023, when
President Bola Tinubu took office and
implemented a series of reforms aimed
at stabilizing the economy and attracting
foreign investment. However, these
reforms have not yielded the desired
results, as the country still faces a
shortage of foreign exchange due to the
decline in crude oil exports, Nigeria’s
main source of revenue, and the low
inflow of overseas investment.
The weakening of the naira has also
fueled inflation, which has reached 29.
9% year-on-year in January 2024, its
highest level since 1996. This means
that the prices of goods and services
have increased significantly, making it
harder for Nigerians to afford their basic
needs. The inflation rate is well above
the average of 10.6% for emerging and
developing economies and 8. 8% for the
world. The rising cost of living has also
eroded the purchasing power and
disposable income of Nigerians, who are
already living in poverty. According to the
World Bank, the number of Nigerians
living in poverty rose by 35 million in
2022, making Nigeria the country with
the largest number of poor people in the
world.
(Nem Telegraph)