Put smiles On Nigerian Faces, Bode George Urges Tinubu—(NAN) Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Thursday urged President Bola Tinubu to revisit some of his reforms and policies, saying many of them are not working and can never work.
George, who gave the advice while addressing a new conference on state of the nation at Ikoyi, Lagos, called on the President to unravel issues around oil and gas and power sectors to get the country out of the woods.
“Having been trained by this nation and worked for this country, if I see things not going right direction and keep quiet. I will be failing. So it is not a matter of fighting.
“Our country, Nigeria, is in a political and economic intensive care unit.
“So, we need proper surgeons- political surgeons and economic surgeons. We are talking about people who have gone through this before, who should be able to come to give us that freshness of breath to get out.
“The solutions that have been preferred by the administration are not working unless we are deceiving ourselves, and we must put smiles on faces of Nigerians no matter where they reside.
“Well, some of us can manage, but what about the myriads of so many many young Nigerians who cannot even have any meal,” George said.
Speaking on the oil and gas sector and issues around fuel subsidy, the elder statesman urged the President to speak the truth to Nigerians.
“In the oil sector, we hear about fuel subsidy today, next day we hear there is no fuel subsidy. So, what exactly is the truth, we want to know. My perception of the handling of the oil sector of our country is very disappointing,” he said.
On electricity, the PDP leader, who decried high cost of power, said that the development had stiffled so many small businesses out of markets and entrenching poverty.
George, who expressed surprise that not one of 18 gas turbines bought by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo had been fired, said that regular and cost effective power supply remained the backbone of the economy.
“Even this office, we spend nothing less than N3 million a month now for only electricity and I wonder how small businesses can.survive in this kind of situation,” he said
On the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest, George commended young Nigerians who went out peacefully to give feedback of policies to the government.
“It is normal especially in a democratic governance, the government is supposed to listen to those who voted for them.
“The Gen Z, are restless, and what is happening in the north is a reflection of the restlessness of the youths.
“They have been to. university and graduated, where is hope, where is job and where is food. They are bound to react,” he said.
Speaking further on the protest, George, a former naval general, urged the military not to get involved with political issues or public pronouncement.
On food insecurity, the PDP leader said that the solution was not in importation of food, saying there should be short, medium and long term policies.
On Inflation, the former military leader urged the President to assemble former and current managing directors of banks in a close door meeting for the way forward.
On Nigerian Constitution, George, who advocated restructuring, power devolution, resources control, electoral reforms, urged the President and the National Assembly to revisit 2014 National Conference, saying current constitution was not working.
“I am hoping that Asiwaju will be bold enough to reform nation’s constitution. This is going go to be a decisive measure of his commitment to this country. If we don’t do it, we can’t move forward,” he said.
On recent Supreme Court’s ruling granting full autonomy to local governments, he said that the federal government does not have any business with local government.
Speaking further, the elder statesman decried alleged high-handedness of Lagos State taskforce in impounding and auctioning motorcycles and vehicles of traffic offenders, describing it as wickedness.
The elder statesman said that Nigeria must bury the problem of tribalism and religious bigotry slowing down its progress.
