As Nigerians mark the June 12 Democracy Day, President Bola Tinubu has been urged to back down from the patronage of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF, and other institutions influencing his administration.
In a message signed by Waheed Lawal, Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, and made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday, the CSOs also demanded the enthronement of an egalitarian society where equity, fairness and prosperity are guaranteed.
Lawal who said the removal of fuel subsidy has created worsening economic hardship and poverty added that electricity subsidy removal and devaluation of the Naira have also cast a shadow over the economic stability of Nigeria.
This development he said is hampering productivity, killing small and medium-scale enterprises and taking away the purchasing power of the Nigerian people.
He said it has created hunger, starvation and skyrocketing the price of food and essential commodities, among other woes.
“Currently, Nigerians are going through worsening economic hardship that is creating more poverty and penury. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through its World Bank and IMF teleguided economic policies have continued to unleash hardship on Nigerians.
“The removal of subsidy, increment in electricity tariff and devaluation of Naira have cast a shadow over the economic stability of Nigeria; and this is hampering productivity and killing Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, taking away the purchasing power of the Nigerian people, creating hunger, starvation and skyrocketing foodstuffs and essential commodities prices, among other woes. The worst of the agonies is the ongoing food crisis where staple foods have been priced out of the reach of the common people.”
He lamented that the manifestoes of MKO Abiola which were the provision of basic amenities and mass prosperity were still elusive 31 years after.
He said it is due to, “continuous decades of bad governance by unpatriotic and self-centred elite, military and civilian leadership that cut across all tribes and religions, produced exploitation, oppression; poverty, misery, injustice, hopelessness, insecurity, banditry and violent death as majorly being experienced by the common masses all over the country!”
Lawal observed that no political party or political actor can deliver any change, so long as the erroneous warped system remains in place
“We are using this June 12 occasion to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to descend from the ladder of the World Bank, IMF and other international institutions influencing his government. Mr President, please save the country and Nigerians from the unleashed hunger and poverty.”
June 12: Cut ties with World Bank, IMF, others – Osun CSOs to Tinubu