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By Adewale Sobowale,
I need to make a confession, and that’s I’m not a supporter of Mr Bola Tinubu’s administration. Since it’s the fashion in Nigeria to describe those who do not support the ruling class/party/president as unpatriotic, we’re seeing what the so-called patriotic elements are doing in the corridors of power.
Let me just mention the last three major points of action on the part of government which, of course, became controversial.
First is the now-abolished tax on electronic banking transactions. To me, the ruling party does not appear to have true representatives of the people. Otherwise, major policies of the government would have been decided at the party level when members of the legislature at various levels bring them for discussion.
When this is done, it succeeds in measuring the popularity of the decision. If the party members are favourably disposed towards an idea, they would, in their various ways, defend it.
The president had to withdraw the idea because it wasn’t popular.
Second is the intention to borrow 20 trillion baira from the pensions Trust fund.Whether or not the government succeeds in eventually borrowing the money, the fact remains that many people have shown their condemnation of the idea.
My conclusion is that people don’t trust this government.
The third is subsidising of pilgrims to perform the hajj.
That’s especially worrisome in a country where an average person is barely managing to survive.
Yet, the government is speaking about 90 billion naira to sponsor some people to perform their religious duty which is supposed to be personal.
For crying out loud, Nigeria is a secular country.
How many tractors would that money have bought if it had been diverted to agriculture?
I won’t grade the government, but I believe it could have done much better!
