Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has criticized the economic policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, claiming they have unleashed unprecedented hunger, poverty, and mass unemployment on Nigerians, turning Nigeria into the world’s poverty capital.
Oborevwori specifically argued that any potential benefits from Tinubu’s policies regarding the removal of the petroleum subsidy and the floating of the naira have been negated by naira devaluation and soaring inflation.
In a statement released by his Executive Assistant on New Media, Mr. Felix Ofou, on Monday, the Delta governor emphasized that it was high time the Tinubu government adopted policies aimed at alleviating poverty and suffering.
These comments came in response to assertions by former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who claimed that the President’s economic policies had resulted in increased federal allocations to state and local governments, rising economic growth rates, declining imports, higher exports, and increased incomes for farmers.
However, Governor Oborevwori disputed Omo-Agege’s claims, questioning “the value of the increased funds amidst galloping inflation, naira devaluation, and widespread poverty.”
The governor urged caution against policies that exacerbate poverty and suffering. He asked, “Can we talk of increased money in any state in Nigeria? What is the worth of such money in the face of galloping inflation, gross devaluation of the naira, unparalleled hunger, mass poverty, mass unemployment, and daily closure of major factories and multinationals in the country?”
“Both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have rightly stated that Tinubu’s economic policies are not working, transforming Nigeria into the poverty capital of the world, with over 130 million people living below the poverty line.
“Tinubu’s economic policies have unleashed economic hardship on Nigerians and are not a desirable model for Delta State.
“Is this the model that Omo-Agege is recommending for Delta to copy? A model that has unleashed economic hardship on the people? Why would anyone recommend APC’s T-pain as a remedy to our woes? This is not a path desirable for Deltans and one they would want to embrace at this time,” he said.
