Yoruba Ronu Forum Knocks Tinubu’s Anniversary Speech, Demands Credible 2027 Polls

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast marking his third year in office, describing the address as “self-mocking amidst self-glorification.” In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Akin Malaolu, the group said the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration since May 29, 2023, had […]

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum has criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast marking his third year in office, describing the address as “self-mocking amidst self-glorification.”

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its President, Akin Malaolu, the group said the economic reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration since May 29, 2023, had worsened the living conditions of Nigerians.

The forum accused the Federal Government of pursuing “extreme capitalism” through the removal of subsidies and policies that allegedly weakened the naira and reduced the purchasing power of citizens.

According to the group, millions of Nigerians have been pushed into hardship as a result of rising inflation and the high cost of living triggered by the administration’s economic policies.

“Nigerians have been reduced to beggars due to his diversion into extreme capitalism. He removed subsidies from everything, crashed the naira and made our purchasing power cascade like faulty electrical wires,” the statement read.

The forum also faulted the government over what it described as poor funding of capital projects, arguing that inadequate investment in infrastructure and development would negatively affect economic growth and employment opportunities.

“It is no longer funny that his government has not been able to fund capital budgets and without their funding, where will growth come from, where will employment opportunities come from?” the group queried.

The Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum further urged President Tinubu to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2027, insisting that Nigerians should be allowed to assess his reforms through the ballot box.

“What we shall demand from the President is for him to give guarantee that there will be free and fair election in 2027. At least he can put his reforms into the ballot, test them and see how his second term will evaporate right before his eyes,” the statement added.

The group maintained that the President had failed to demonstrate sufficient understanding of the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians or empathy towards the prevailing economic hardship.

President Tinubu had, during his anniversary address, defended his administration’s reforms, insisting that they were necessary to stabilise the economy and reposition the country for long-term growth.