Declare state of emergency on food. Nigerians hungry, angry – Elder statesman, Clark tells Tinubu
Chief Edwin Clark has urged President Bola Tinubu to swiftly declare a state of emergency on food, citing widespread hunger and anger among Nigerians.
Speaking at his Asokoro residence in Abuja during a visit from the President of Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Clark emphasized that Nigerians have the right to protest, referencing a past protest organized by Tinubu against former President Goodluck Jonathan over fuel subsidy removal.
Clark argued that Tinubu should not be blamed for the recent subsidy removal, as the budget for it expired in June 2023. However, he called on the government to implement practical measures to alleviate poverty, noting that the subsidy removal is causing hardship for Nigerians.
“Oil subsidy is a big problem in Nigeria. Oil subsidy is not confined to Nigeria alone, but everything in Nigeria does not work because of poor management and poor leadership. True, we all realize later that the oil subsidy was a scam.
“That was why in 2012, during the administration of Jonathan, in January 2012, his government removed the oil subsidy.
“During the 2023 presidential campaign, all the major parties talked about removal of subsidies. But in 2020 and 2021, President Buhari, as well as the Minister of Finance, Ahmed, and the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced to Nigerians that there was no longer subsidy in Nigeria,” the elder statesman said.
