A former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Ayokunle, has berated the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying it took many steps backwards.
Ayokunle speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme on Channels Television on Friday also called on Tinubu to address the issue of multiple taxations by federal and state agencies on poor Nigerians.
He said ‘Enough Is Enough’ while he also urged the Federal Government to invest more on the agriculture sector in order to beat the problem of food inflation in the country.
Ayokunle who is also a former President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention further called on Tinubu to open up Nigeria’s economy and bring investment mining sector to tap the goldmines locked up in the industry.
“Let’s delve into other aspects of our economy. Nigeria is rich, let’s explore, not just taxing, taxing. If you tax people, people will die,” he said.
“If you continue to tax them and tax them, they will die and if people die without fulfilling their life ambition, you will be held responsible.
“I know that the present President wants to help Nigerians but he should stop adding tax to tax but enough is enough. How will people survive? How will people breathe?” he asked.
“Tomorrow is not certain for many people with the way we are going and they are still raising more taxes, electricity tariff hike, and others.
“Where will people get these monies? Don’t you know the amount you pay them per month? Do you want to kill them or drive them away from the country?” Ayokunle asked.
On the state of Nigeria’s economy, the cleric lamented that it is in shambles and that the country is many years behind considering the resources at its disposal when one looks at its performance.
“The economy is in shambles. The pains Nigerians are facing is unprecedented. I don’t know what to classify this as, whether it is hyperinflation or something else,” he said.
“The cost of things has spiralled unimaginably, making it difficult for Nigerians to survive.”
He further said that Tinubu’s administration took some steps that were very good and they also took so many steps backwards.
According to Ayokunle, the hastiness of the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu administration upon assuming office on May 29, 2023, was not good.
“The hastiness without considering the implications, line by line, of petrol subsidy removal wasn’t a good thing,” he said.
Ayokunle added that the government is trying to address the issue of foreign exchange but they are miles away from getting it right.
As regards finding a solution to the problems bedevilling FX, the former CAN president said something drastic must be done.
He lamented the economic situation in Nigeria, saying it has become unbearable for young people who can “no longer take it because hope deferred makes the heart weary”.
