Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-cultural and sociopolitical organisation, has accused the Tinubu administration of economically sabotaging Nigerians in the guise of establishing economic reforms.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV, Prince Justice Faloye, the National Publicity Secretary of the Pa Ayo Adebanjo-led group, criticised the government’s handling of the economy and the repression of citizens protesting against their worsening economic conditions.
He called for the immediate release of those protesters jailed for treason saying “We are very concerned and are asking for the immediate release of those locked up for treason. Even if you were violent during protest, you could be charged for willful destruction of properties and other things, but never treason and the question that we have to ask is who is even treasonable here? Because what Nigerians are facing is economic sabotage. They keep telling us it is economic reform but I say it is economic sabotage.”
He expressed concern over what he views as an escalation of authoritarian tactics, comparing the current situation to the days of military dictator Sani Abacha, saying “We are moving back to the days of Abacha if we are not careful.”
Faloye further criticised the government’s failure to address the country’s reliance on petrol imports, which he claimed accounts for 55% of Nigeria’s import bill.
“Our biggest problem right now is the import of petrol. This is a government that came in and within hundred days, we would have expected that 55% of the import bill could be taken care of. Our refineries have gulped over $20 billion and yet nothing is happening. And then we hear these stories about Dangote refineries. So, what do you expect the people to do?” the Afenifere scribe remonstrated.
“Logic shows that there is a way that the government should have resolved these economic problems. We are not tackling issues. They keep saying there are economic reforms. What reforms? Can they specifically tell which industries they expect to grow from these reforms? When you see how you can cut the petrol and high importation which is over half of our import bill and you are not addressing those and then you are now going on to make everybody’s life difficult?”
Regarding NLC president Joe Ajaero’s arrest, Faloye expressed frustration, calling it an act of intimidation.
“We know that he (Joe Ajaero) was invited about two or three weeks ago and he went. Why are they intimidating him? Because we see it as intimidation. What are the charges against him? Why was he arrested and I mean if he was guilty, why did you release him within 24 hours? We don’t believe that you mean to keep on bringing the NLC president in for questioning for the inalienable right of citizens to protest. It is intimidation,” Faloye declared.
“It is not only the NLC president, because we tend to concentrate on the big fish. There are underage individuals currently being locked up for treason. That is the main concern of the Afenifere because I have said it that we support the inalienable right to protest especially in this case where the economic livelihood has been destroyed under the pretence of an economic reform programme which is fallacious.”
Speaking on Afenifere, he also addressed internal divisions within Afenifere, refuting claims of a faction in the group. While acknowledging that Afenifere is not an opposition party, Faloye hinted at the possibility of forming or joining a political party to challenge the government’s economic direction.
“We don’t have a faction. We have people who for some prebendal motives decided to go with Tinubu. For the last 20 years, Afenifere has criticised Tinubu for running because we are social welfarists and we believe in making life abundant and even in Lagos (Tinubu) did not do it. Lagos would have collapsed under Tinubu if not because of the import market that we have here. We are not an opposition party even though we might have to create another party or join a party.”
