VANGUARD
After coming under criticisms for demanding a media blackout on the Chicago State University, CSU, certificate saga of President Bola Tinubu pending the Supreme Court decision on the matter, former President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, bares his mind on a number of issues bothering on the socio-economic, dollar dominated economy, offering ideas on how to reduce the price of petrol to N300. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he also says some sectors can raise N100 trillion, adding that N32trn was lying under Ministry of Finance Incorporated, while also noting that leadership and political parties in the country only pursue self-interests.
The President Ahmed Tinubu-led government has a lot of controversies to contend with: The socio-economic crisis occasioned by the policy of subsidy removal, the unified single exchange rate, the threat by the Labour Congress to shut down the country, the struggle to provide palliatives to calm frayed nerves, and now the issue of credibility as a result of the Chicago State Certificate saga.
Do you feel any pity for a government of five months having all these issues hanging on its neck?
Well, it is very tough. Unfortunately, I can’t make any comment on the Chicago State University certificate issue. I don’t talk to the media when a matter is pending in court. If the matter is decided, then I can comment on it.
Generally speaking, President Tinubu has taken on a very challenging assignment. Let us assume that President Tinubu is the captain of an aircraft. Tinubu takes off from the runway; he has to climb out to a particular altitude. You know, in climbing, some pilots have a very smooth climb, while others have very turbulent climbing. Tinubu has been contending with two major headwinds.
One is the issue of the removal of subsidies, and another is the exchange control issue. How he handles them will depend on his skills as a pilot. But the climbing is very difficult.
When you are climbing out and you hit the head wind, you have to be in full focus. So, the climb-out has been extremely tough.
There is no doubt about it. What I think is that he ought to be using full power because when a pilot is climbing, he has the power to trot. What I see Captain Tinubu doing at this stage is using only 50 percent of his throttle power.
He needs to push that throttle to the limit so that the climb-out can be great. I will say that the turbulence will continue until the Supreme Court makes its final decision.
What is obvious is that Nigerians have to go through a very tough time. It has been the toughest time in the history of this country since independence, as garri, rice, vegetables, and other staple foods are way out of the reach of the common man.
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