President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office and immediately announced the removal of fuel subsidy. He promised that the gains from subsidy removal would be used to address challenges of the economy. But over 18 months in office, Nigerians are yet to feel any impact, rather people are dying and suffering untold hardships. Hunger is killing the people and Tinubu’s promise to make life better has not materialized.
Without doubt, from May 29, 2023 to Year 2024 has been a tough year for many Nigerians, no thanks to the harsh effect of the removal of fuel subsidy. An average Nigerian family will never forget the kind of hardship it was subjected to.
That single policy has had more impact than a rippling effect on the prices of food, goods, school/tuition fees, house rent, and especially on transport costs. Unarguably the North is Nigeria’s food basket – responsible for the provision of food to the nation. The average cost of transporting a trailer truck of yam, onion, potato, tomato, etcetera, without exaggeration, from Markudi or Jos to Lagos is over one million Naira! This is due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
Prior to his election and emergence as president on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu had so much political capital and goodwill amongst the people, and across Nigeria but his removal of fuel subsidy, irrespective of few applause from members of his political party. Such applause can best be described as coming from the hands of a leprous infected person.
While many people are free to query the criteria or methodology used to qualify ‘President Tinubu as Nigeria’s 2024 Man Of The Year’, it is because he has staked the political goodwill that he had built over the years of his political life to risk losing it on the altar of his removal of fuel subsidy, especially in the 2027 presidential election. That election will define whether Tinubu will squander the portfolio of his political goodwill as a sacrifice for the removal of fuel subsidy in his reelection bid. Like, love or hate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I admire his courage to risk and stake his political capital and goodwill in defence of his economic policies albeit he has become unpopular, especially amongst the poor masses of Nigeria. The good news is, come 2027, the power to elect a president for Nigeria absolutely rests in the votes that is in the hands of the people.
As Nigerians, let’s hail and welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigeria’s ‘2024 Man Of The Year’. More than any other person, President Tinubu impacted the lives of Nigerians, especially with his policy of removal of fuel subsidy and it’s effect on the standard of living of our people. Whether he qualifies to be named man of the year is debatable and is entirely another kettle of fish.
Mr. President, sir, Congratulations for your courage and belief in your decision to remove fuel subsidy and as the 2024 Man Of The Year.