Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Adams, has openly criticised President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of disappointing the Nigerians who once saw him as a leader of hope. In an open letter to the president, Adams expressed his deep frustration over the current economic hardship in the country, blaming Tinubu’s policies, especially regarding fuel prices and the state of the petroleum sector.
The letter, dated September 11, 2024, outlines Adams’ disappointment with the President’s handling of the economy and his apparent insensitivity to the struggles of ordinary Nigerians. The Aare Ona Kakanfo pointed to the steep rise in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as a major source of suffering for the people.
Adams reminded Tinubu that, during the 2023 elections, many Nigerians believed in his leadership, hoping he would bring relief after years of hardship under former President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the situation has worsened instead.
“When you came with the ‘Emilokan’ slogan in the build-up to the 2023 elections, many Nigerians believed you would perform better than Buhari, who worsened poverty levels and insecurity from 2015 to 2023,” Adams wrote. “Today, events have shown that those hopes were misplaced.”
A major concern for Gani Adams is the skyrocketing price of petrol. When Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, petrol sold for less than N200 per litre. Today, that price has surged to over N1,000 per litre. This, Adams believes, is a sign that the administration is disconnected from the daily realities of Nigerians.
“Obviously, your administration is becoming indifferent, insensitive, and unresponsive to the plights of millions of Nigerians who can no longer meet their daily needs. This is a brutal assault on the sensibility of Nigerians,” Adams stated.
He emphasised that the ongoing rise in fuel prices, coupled with a stagnant economy, has pushed the population to a breaking point. “Nigerians can no longer bear this economic hardship any longer,” he added, urging the President to reverse the fuel price hikes.
Adams further revealed that he has been under pressure from many Nigerians to speak out against the situation. He claimed that some people wrongly assumed that, because both he and Tinubu are prominent Yoruba figures, he was avoiding speaking the truth to the president.
“I am writing this letter to you because of the pressure I am going through from millions of Nigerians, who believe I don’t want to tell you the truth,” Adams explained.
He made it clear that his critique was based on the government’s handling of the petroleum sector, which he described as “perverted, opaque, unintelligible, wicked, and corrupt.” He noted that the continuous rise in fuel prices under Tinubu’s administration was a major source of suffering, likening it to telling Nigerians to “go to hell.”
In addition to fuel price hikes, Adams also expressed concerns about the steep rise in foreign exchange rates. He pointed out that the value of the naira has significantly dropped since Tinubu took office. In May 2023, the naira traded at less than N740 to the US dollar, but by September 2024, it had surpassed N1,600 per dollar.
“Today, it is more than N1,600. As the Minister of Petroleum, I ask you, what type of reforms is this?” Adams questioned, suggesting that the administration’s economic policies are failing.
He also took a swipe at two of Tinubu’s long-time associates, Wale Edun (Finance Minister) and Yemi Cardoso (Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria), who both hold key positions in managing the economy. Adams expressed doubt that these men were providing the president with sound economic advice.
The worsening security situation in the country was another major point in Adams’ letter. He noted that many Nigerians had high hopes that insecurity would decline after Buhari’s administration ended in 2023. Instead, the situation appears to have deteriorated.
“From the North to the South, East to the West, the rate at which Nigerians are being abducted and some killed, even after ransom is paid, has increased,” Adams lamented. He described the current security situation as a major failure of Tinubu’s government.
In his letter, Gani Adams compared Tinubu’s leadership to the rise of Adolf Hitler, the dictator who led Nazi Germany during World War II. Adams drew parallels between the early stages of Hitler’s rule and Tinubu’s government, expressing concern about the direction the country is heading.
“Your Excellency, do you remember Adolf Hitler who became the Commander-in-Chief in Germany in 1933? Hitler, an elected democrat, quickly transformed a democratic republic into a dictatorship,” Adams wrote.
He warned that there are worrying similarities between Hitler’s rise to power and Tinubu’s governance, suggesting that if the situation continues, it could lead to more severe consequences for Nigeria. Adams noted that while Hitler left Germany in ruins by the end of World War II, the nation was able to rebuild due to the determination of its people.
“I hope I am wrong, but I see a linkage between what happened during the ascendancy of Hitler into power and what is happening in Nigeria today,” Adams concluded, warning the President to heed the calls of Nigerians before it is too late.
In his closing remarks, Gani Adams urged President Tinubu to reflect on the plight of ordinary Nigerians and consider reversing the policies that have exacerbated the country’s economic crisis. He expressed hope that Tinubu would rise to the occasion and live up to the expectations of those who saw him as a messiah figure during the elections.
He called on Tinubu to listen to more diverse voices and surround himself with advisers who are honest about the challenges facing the nation.
“Mr. President, if a few of your advisers are telling you that all is well, I can confidently inform you that they are your enemies,” Adams wrote, urging the President to take action before the situation worsens.
