Tinubu’s broadcast left critics crestfallen, By Kola Amzat

There seems to be a pall of darkness over the entire nation following the president’s declaration of zero-subsidy regime for petroleum products during his inauguration, and coupled with the recent commencement of the implementation of unified exchange rate, both key policy initiatives with far-reaching capacity to determine the survival of our country, both in the short and medium-long term runs.

The populace palpable fear was confirmed with the galloping cost of fuel, at least three times consecutively in the past couple of weeks, with the latest being about ₦715. Compounding this, is the unbearable increase in the prices of virtually all the food stuffs, with the worst hit been the soup ingredients.

Of course, it’s an understatement to submit that businesses and corporate organizations are also badly affected, with quite a number of business enterprises groaning, as well as grappling with astronomical increases in administrative and general cost of running businesses.

Sadly, the wailers, less discerning minds and die-card critics of the government have been capitalizing on this development to be churning out reckless, unprintable, unpatriotic and despicable messages about the government, pretending to be oblivious of very frightening point that the new government took off from, and therefore mischievously expecting the President to dramatically cause a turnaround of the nation’s multifaceted challenges that have lingered and festered over decades, just within two months of his inauguration into the office.

Instructively however, the President has emphatically responded in his historic and unprecedented August 01, 2023 National Broadcast that, he totally understood the groaning and pains the generality of Nigerians are going through and therefore passionately urged us all, to look beyond the present travails and focus on the big picture that would surely manifests in no distant time.

The president confirmed unequivocally that the two key policies- subsidy removal and unification of exchange rates that he had implemented that have triggered uproar and temporary hardship amongst the populace are inevitable, and as a matter of necessity MUST go, in order to rescue back the huge and unimaginable fortunes of the country from economic vultures, cankerworms and locusts who had completely held the nation by the jugular over the years, even before he ascended power, otherwise the nation’s journey to greatness and prosperity might as well be a mirage and illusion.

The president also asserted that the tiny, but very powerful and hugely influential group had amassed so much wealth and power and they’ve already become a serious threat to the fairness of our economy and the integrity of our democratic governance.

But, it’s gladdening to note that the government has resolved to correct the imbalance and disequilibrium in the system.

According to the president, more than ₦1 trillion already saved from subsidy removal alone by the government just within two months of inauguration of the new administration is a perfect justification why curtains was completely drawn on the two policies which had largely provided enormous wealth, life of splendor and lavish bank accounts for selected group of privileged few individuals within the society.

It’s crystal clear that the president in the Broadcast spoke from his heart. He was completely down to heart. He spoke to Nigerians with so much zeal and patriotism with empathy laden voice. His message was emotional and touchy.

Tinubu message might have hit generality of Nigerians marrows. For years to come, Nigerians may not witness such an historic and symbolic broadcast again. In our nation chequered history, none of Nigerian successive leaders had ever engaged and interacted with the citizenry in such a bloodily, fatherly, nationalistic and patriotic tone before.   

And the news in the public domain is that the appreciative citizenry across the country have responded by re-doubling their trust and confidence in the capacity of an uncommon and unusual leader who has expressly professed his genuine love and affection for the country and her several millions of people, to turn the fortunes of the country around in a short while.        

The president aptly declared that the Federal Government is collaborating with other tiers of government with a view to swiftly implementing multi-dimensional and far reaching palliatives interventions to provide necessary succor for the citizenry across the nation, while the pains of the two policies measures last.

Amongst packages of palliatives that in a short while from now expected to hit Nigerian manufacturing sector, SMEs, Farmers, Households, Commuters, etc are the followings:

• ₦75 billion to strengthen the manufacturing sector, with particular focus in enabling the sector’s capacity to expand and create good-paying jobs within now and March 2024.

• ₦125 billion to drive and energize SMEs, out of which ₦50 billion Conditional grant will be committed to 1 million nano business owners spreading 774 Local Governments across the country, with the balance of ₦75 billion deployed to drive 100,000 SMEs business initiatives, also across the country. The implementation time is within now and March 2024.

• ₦100 billion is to be deployed to comprehensively ensures that food items are available and also, affordable to all Nigerians. This includes N50 billion each to cultivate 150,000 hectares of rice and maize, with the balance of ₦50 billion committed to cultivate 100,000 hectares of wheat and cassava, with the implementation between now and March, 2024. The small and medium farmers would be the center-piece of the agricultural initiatives.

• ₦100 billion has been earmarked to be expended on acquisition of 3000 units of CNG fuelled buses to be distributed to major transportation companies in the states, for the purpose of mass transit across the states and local governments in the country at affordable prices.
• The Federal Government has also approved the Infrastructure Support Fund for the States, with a view to enabling them providing necessary intervention in the critical areas and bring succor and relief to the citizenry, as well as re-ignite decaying healthcare facilities, as well as educational architecture.
• Plan is also afoot for general upward review of minimum image, a development that would soon crystallizes. 
• President Tinubu also promised to make education much more affordable to Nigerians, as well as provide Educational Loan at no interest, to those who are in need.     

It’s instructive and remarkable to note that the palliatives initiative as rolled out are designed to touch all strata, segments and sectors across the country.

The president is also confident that the measures already taken are apt enough to better prepared and enabled Nigerians to withstand the turbulent period, while Nigerians are awaiting prosperous times ahead.

But, it’s most unfortunate that the avowed critics and opposition members are disappointed and totally enraged with the above awesome development, as President Tinubu has taken absolute charge and control of the nation, as well as governance.

The few disgruntled elements are largely uncomfortable and disillusioned that hell hasn’t been let loose, as if they have anything to profit from a disorganized and peace less Nigeria.

Let me also use this medium to celebrate and congratulate the leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for their maturity and patriotism, that has culminated in resolving to collaborate with President Tinubu in his quest and patriotic zeal to frontally address the imbalance and disequilibrium in the nation polity, a development that has lingered over decades.

Report reaching us while this Piece is on is that, the labour leaders have resolved to call off their one day old peaceful protest and support the president to actualize his dreams and visions of taking Nigeria to the greater heights.

This is the patriotic spirit we all need, both the followers and leaders in order to ensure a renaissance Nigeria. Nigeria doesn’t belong to the president alone. The president is just our true symbol of hope, aspirations and dreams.

Nigeria remains our country and we must all collaborate with the President to ensure its growth and development, as well as ascendance into comity of greater nations. This is least we can do for the motherland. 

Kola AMZAT (FCA),

Lagos Based Financial Consultant,

09077509348.             

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

LAGOS BASED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT,

09077509348

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB,  CTP, MBA)                                                                                                                  Lagos Based Financial Consultant

09077509348.