In this episode of the Mic on Podcast, the anchor, Seun Okinbaloye is joined by Mr. Liborous Oshoma (Lawyer) and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Dominic Alancha for a heated debate on the performance of President Bola Tinubu, as he marks his first year in office and contributing to the national discourse on Nigeria’s future governance, with emphasis on his policies and their impacts.
Mr. Oshoma criticizes the handling of the fuel subsidy removal, stating, “I expected an incoming president to sit down, look at the books, and make some effort to address the (fuel subsidy issues) before removing it.” His dissatisfaction with the administration is palpable, as he rates Tinubu’s government a mere 2.5 out of 10. Oshoma further questions the long-term viability of current policies, remarking, “Nobody has been able to show me a policy that will guarantee that in two or three years from now, our production of crude will increase.”
Conversely, Dominic Alancha offers a more optimistic perspective. Acknowledging the challenging inheritance from the previous administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, he asserts,
“President Bola Tinubu inherited a battered economy, in a state of coma, and he needs to put in policies that will revive the economy.”
Alancha defends the controversial fuel subsidy removal, arguing, “There was no error of judgejudgmentannouncing the removal of the fuel subsidy). For me, it was a decision that was needed.” He praises Tinubu’s responsiveness and urges patience. “Mr. President is a good listener. We should commend him for his response to the cries and pains of Nigerians.”
While the contrasting viewpoints highlight the polarized reception of Tinubu’s administration, Oshoma criticizes the lack of thorough planning, claiming, “(Tinubu’s administration) is not a listening government. The (current) government is not thinking its policy through.” He, therefore calls for a revamp of the subsidy regime and improvements in local production capabilities.
Meanwhile, Alancha remains confident in the president’s leadership, expressing, “I have 100% confidence in Tinubu’s presidency. I’m not worried. I believe in his competence and capacity.
” He underscored the need for systemic solutions. “I think Nigerians should begin to think of solutions to the myriad of challenges we are going through. Before 2027, we will get there.”
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