Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma on Friday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s “bold decisions” have successfully steered Nigeria away from economic collapse and “made Nigeria rich again.”
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum stakeholders meeting, Uzodimma asserted that Tinubu inherited a nation “almost drowning” upon assuming office in 2023.
“He discovered the cancer that held Nigeria hostage, and he took that bold decision of removing the fuel subsidy, of unifying the exchange rate, of rolling out so many reforms, and the fiscal policies that made Nigeria, which was almost broke, gradually now becoming rich again,” the Governor stated.
Mixed Economic Fortunes and Shifting Blame
Uzodimma’s optimistic assessment of Nigeria’s economy stands in stark contrast to the lived experiences of many citizens. While state governors have been receiving significantly higher federal allocations since the removal of the fuel subsidy, ordinary Nigerians continue to grapple with soaring inflation that has drastically reduced their purchasing power and increased hardship.
President Tinubu has, however, pushed back against taking sole responsibility for the economic constraints faced by citizens, instead urging Nigerians to hold their state governors and local government chairmen accountable.
“We are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country,” the President once said, according to the source material. “They must equally be sympathetic, and they must urgently consider the needs of the local people.”
Tinubu further questioned the effectiveness of local governance, suggesting a need for a “recalibrating” of the system.
“People reside in the local communities. That is where they work, farm, and live. If the local governments are not effective in delivering services… who is being held accountable for the performance of the 774 local governments?” he queried. “When we want the votes, we go to the locals; when we get the votes, we move to and focus on Abuja.”
