Although some of the Nigerians harmed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration are no longer alive, the Yoruba sociopolitical group Afenifere maintains that it would have been much better if the President had heeded the cries of those who had complained to him over the years about “the unfriendly, if not backward, steps his administration had been taken.”
Nigerians may be willing to forgive Buhari, according to a statement from Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, if he makes adjustments to lessen suffering in the nation before handing over power to President-Elect Bola Tinubu on May 29.
President Buhari pleaded for forgiveness from Nigerians last Friday for any wrongdoing on his part.
However, Afenifere claimed that if the President could make “dramatic changes” to the policies that are making life tough for Nigerians within the 34 days left of his term, many people could be willing to forgive him.
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While advising Buhari to take decisive action that will end national insecurity and ensure the immediate payment of university lecturers’ eight-month salaries, the group also suggested that efforts be made to ensure that those living in IDP camps are relocated to their original homes and that “the stranglehold on the economy,” particularly through unfavourable fiscal policies, be relaxed to allow for a quick recovery of economic activity.
If President Buhari and his staff truly want to adopt these measures by May 29, according to Afenifere
“Without deceiving ourselves, the Nigerian government under the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari certainly ‘hurt’ a lot of people (to use his own word). Some of them are even no longer alive. Some who are alive have wounds that can hardly ever heal. Both physical and psycho-social wounds,” the statement read.
“Because the Almighty created many humans to have large hearts, many whom the President had hurt may forgive him. That is for those who are alive.
“But then, what about thousands who have died as a result of avoidable acts that can easily be traced to the government such as non-provision of security and welfare as clearly enshrined in the Constitution?”