Former Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, John Onaiyekan, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the w
orsening economic hardship in Nigeria.
orsening economic hardship in Nigeria. Speaking at a Marian Concert in Abuja, Onaiyekan lamented that the government’s reforms have led to severe economic conditions, with ordinary citizens struggling to meet basic needs like fuel while those in power live extravagantly.
Onaiyekan stressed that the number of Nigerians falling into poverty has increased since the administration took office last year, emphasizing that “everybody is now becoming poor.”
“Everybody is now becoming poor. You can’t tell someone to be patient with poverty while we see the people who are supposed to address our poverty, live flamboyantly,” Onaiyekan stated.
He urged the federal government to review its policies, which he believes are exacerbating poverty nationwide.
The clergyman called for a leadership that understands the people’s plight and takes measures to ease their suffering, warning that there is a limit to what people can handle. He specifically criticized policies leading to increased fuel prices, inflation, and naira devaluation, which have left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
Onaiyekan noted that the middle class has been particularly affected, stating that it has been “completely wiped out.”
He emphasized that leadership has a responsibility to ensure justice and equity, with the nation’s common resources distributed fairly.
ges.
