...Faults FG economic policies, urges faith amid hardship
A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has delivered a scathing assessment of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring that the President has fallen short of the messianic expectations many Nigerians projected onto his leadership at inception.
In a press statement issued on Friday to mark the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, Eze lamented what he described as “policy-induced hardship, economic dislocation, and governance inertia,” arguing that the current administration has deepened rather than alleviated the socio-economic burdens confronting citizens.
According to the APC stalwart, the optimism that greeted Tinubu’s emergence has since given way to widespread disenchantment, as macroeconomic reforms though theoretically grounded in liberal economic orthodoxy have translated into severe inflationary pressures, declining purchasing power, and heightened social vulnerability.
“From inception, many Nigerians harboured legitimate concerns about the trajectory of this administration. Today, those fears have crystallised into lived realities. The President is clearly not the messiah Nigerians prayed for,” Eze stated.
He contended that governance must transcend political expediency and reflect a moral contract with the people, rooted in equity, justice, and responsiveness.
Invoking both democratic theory and religious ethos, Eze stressed that leadership in a pluralistic society like Nigeria must embody compassion, accountability, and distributive fairness.
Eze’s intervention comes against the backdrop of growing public frustration over economic reforms, including subsidy removal and currency realignment, which critics argue have disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable segments of society.
Framing his message within the spiritual significance of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the culmination of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Eze called on Nigerians to draw strength from faith, resilience, and collective hope.
He noted that Ramadan, much like the Christian observance of Lenten season, represents a period of sacrifice, introspection, and moral recalibration values he said are urgently needed in Nigeria’s current political climate.
“This sacred period underscores the imperatives of sacrifice, compassion, and devotion to God. It is a moral reminder that leadership, too, must be sacrificial and people-oriented,” he said.
The APC chieftain urged citizens not to succumb to despair, but rather to sustain faith in the nation’s democratic evolution, emphasizing that periods of trial often precede renewal.
In a notable political shift, Eze expressed confidence in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a credible alternative platform capable of “recalibrating governance and restoring public trust.”
He described the ADC as being on a “national rescue mission,” anchored on institutional reforms, economic inclusivity, and people-centred policies designed to reverse what he termed the excesses of the current administration.
“The ADC represents a paradigm shift—one that prioritises competence over patronage, national cohesion over sectional interests, and sustainable development over short-term political gains,” he asserted.
Eze also extended warm felicitations to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of Ramadan, urging them to utilise the spiritual gains of the season in fostering national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“I congratulate all Muslim faithful on the successful completion of Ramadan. May this Eid usher in renewed hope, healing, and prosperity for our nation,” he said.
He further called for interfaith harmony, noting that Nigeria’s strength lies in its diversity and shared aspirations for peace and progress.
Eze urged Nigerians to remain steadfast, prayerful, and actively engaged in shaping the country’s democratic future, stressing that transformational leadership must ultimately emerge from collective vigilance and civic responsibility.
“Nigeria will overcome. But it requires leadership that is not only politically strategic but morally grounded and people-focused,” he added.
