Tinubu’s economic reforms are working – Agbese replies Bafarawa

Philip Agbese, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency in Benue State, has strongly criticised former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, over his recent open letter to President Bola Tinubu.

Bafarawa had in an open letter to Tinubu urged the Nigerian President to allow opposition politics to flourish, warning that stifling dissent could harm democracy and national development, and reminding the former Lagos State governor that his own rise to power was made possible by a thriving opposition.

He also warned Tinubu against attempts to create a one-party state, calling it a dangerous path that could lead to instability, stating that “Nigeria cannot afford a one-party system. A strong democratic order is essential for national progress and for future generations.”

However, Agbese, in his response, accused Bafarawa of misrepresenting the realities of Tinubu’s administration and attempting to undermine its achievements. He described Bafarawa’s claims of authoritarianism and economic mismanagement as misleading, arguing that they failed to acknowledge the difficult but necessary decisions taken to stabilise Nigeria.

Agbese noted that Tinubu, who succeeded Muhammadu Buhari, also of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as president, inherited a deeply troubled country, particularly in the areas of insecurity and economic instability. He stressed that the security challenges in Nigeria did not begin under the current administration and that expecting an overnight solution was unrealistic.

He pointed to Tinubu’s reforms in the security sector, including the appointment of new military and intelligence chiefs and the strengthening of regional security collaborations as evidence of the government’s commitment to tackling Nigeria’s security crisis.

“Insecurity that has plagued Nigeria, from terrorism in the North-East to banditry in the North-West and IPOB insurgency in the South-East, did not begin under President Tinubu. The previous administration, despite its best efforts, struggled to fully contain these threats. No sincere observer of Nigeria’s governance landscape would dispute that the country was in dire straits when President Tinubu took office,” Agbese stated.

Agbese also dismissed Bafarawa’s claim that Tinubu’s government was stifling opposition, arguing that the president had demonstrated a greater commitment to inclusivity than his predecessors. He cited the administration’s broad-based cabinet appointments as proof that merit, rather than political loyalty, was prioritised.

“For the record, no Nigerian democratic president in history has demonstrated as much commitment to inclusivity as President Tinubu. This is evident in his carefully assembled cabinet; a diverse representation of the country, not just in terms of geography, but in professional expertise and competence,” he said.

He further rejected the allegation that Tinubu was attempting to establish a one-party state, describing the assertion as baseless and contradictory.

“The insinuation that he is now attempting to stifle the opposition is a contradiction that does not stand to reason. Tinubu himself rose to power through opposition politics. To suggest that he would now seek to undermine the very system he helped build is both ironic and unfounded,” Agbese stated.

On economic policies, Agbese strongly defended Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, arguing that it was a long-overdue reform that past administrations lacked the political will to implement.

He described the subsidy system as a “black hole of corruption”, which enriched a few at the expense of national development. According to Agbese, the removal of the subsidy has freed up resources that could now be directed towards infrastructure, education, and healthcare.

“The removal of fuel subsidies, for instance, was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. The subsidy regime had become a black hole of corruption, benefiting only a few while draining national resources that could have been channeled into infrastructure, education, and healthcare,” he said.

He further argued that Tinubu’s economic reforms were designed to correct years of financial mismanagement, even at great political risk to his administration.

“Had previous administrations undertaken these difficult but necessary decisions, Nigeria’s economy would not be in the fragile state it was when President Tinubu took office. Instead, they avoided the hard choices, leaving Tinubu to bear the burden of unmaking years of economic mismanagement,” Agbese stated.

Urging Bafarawa to adopt a more objective stance, Agbese stressed that constructive criticism was welcome, but baseless allegations only served to fuel unnecessary division. He called on the former governor to contribute to national development, rather than attempting to discredit the government’s efforts.

“Nigeria is on a path to full recovery, and while the journey may be difficult, the destination is worth the effort. President Tinubu is undoubtedly leading that recovery with bold and necessary reforms. It is time to support, not sabotage, these efforts,” Agbese concluded.

For more updates on Nigeria’s economic policies and governance, visit the Federal Ministry of Finance or the Presidency Official Website.