Fuel Subsidy Removal Good Reform Done Wrongly – Ex-Minister
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration made a mistake in the way it implemented the removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a “good reform done the wrong way.”
Speaking on Monday at a panel discussion during the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Enugu, Ezekwesili said it was difficult to defend the Federal Government because of its wrong policy choices.
“It is a tough job to have to defend the APC government. You can do the right policies but if you do it the wrong way, there will be a problem,” Ezekwesili said.
She cited the subsidy removal as an example of a reform that lacked proper preparation.
“The reform was not prepared for. It was a good reform done the wrong way. It is bad because inflation is punishing the populace. You really have to prepare for reform,” Ezekwesili said, adding that the declaration “Subsidy is gone” by the President has plunged many Nigerians into penury.
“Inflation hits the poor so hard and they have nowhere to run to. It was a good reform done wrongly,” she maintained.
Ezekwesili urged lawyers and the judiciary not to reward prebendalism and not to pander to the wishes of the political class that care less about the poor masses.
“The idea that politics is the pathway to becoming wealthy is an anomaly,” Ezekwesili said. “Any profession that is rewarding this kind of pre-examined behavior cannot be a profession that cares about tomorrow.
“133 million Nigerians are in a state of poverty. The lawyers are determining the rule of law in Nigeria. There should be an evaluation of the political class. This country lies prostrate for the poor. I am praying the legal profession. Any profession that is rewarding prebendalism is not a profession,” she lamented.
Another panellist, George Etomi, expressed concern about the judiciary’s independence, saying “Our judiciary was more independent under the military. I don’t know what the new law is. They are abusing democracy today. We must protect the judiciary.”
In a panel discussion, Nigerians expressed their dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s policies, passing a vote of no confidence on him. When asked if the country was on the right track with the government policies, the overwhelming response was “no”.
Similarly, when asked if their hope had been renewed under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the answer was again a resounding “no”.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
