Veteran broadcaster and former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shift from what he described as a ruling mentality to a more inclusive and empathetic style of governance as he enters the second half of his administration.
Speaking as a guest on Frontline, a current affairs programme aired on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu on Monday, Farounbi delivered a comprehensive evaluation of Tinubu’s performance in the last two years, highlighting both achievements and lapses.
While acknowledging that Tinubu had delivered on a few major promises made during his May 29, 2023 inaugural address — including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the exchange rate, and advancement of tax reforms — Farounbi stressed that these measures have failed to cushion the intense economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
“There are three things he said in that inaugural speech that he has faithfully achieved,” Farounbi noted. “But while he has kept those promises, the impact on ordinary Nigerians has been devastating. The streets are hungry, and tension is rising in homes.”
The press release for the interview was issued by Eagle FM’s current affairs unit, offering a stark analysis of the socio-political and economic realities currently confronting the nation.
“The President should govern on our behalf, not rule over us,” Farounbi stated bluntly. “He should listen and realize that the hardship is much. In this second half, he should give more than just words of hope. His policies must begin to have a human face.”
He expressed disappointment that the President has yet to make concrete moves to resolve chronic issues like insecurity and the epileptic power supply.
“In security, he has failed in my view,” Farounbi asserted. “Even the promise of having state police has gone after more than two years without any positive action. And on electricity, we’ve had more grid collapses in the last year than in the past ten years combined.”
The elder statesman also took a swipe at what he described as the gradual erosion of Nigeria’s democratic principles under Tinubu’s leadership, warning against the suppression of opposition voices and the consolidation of political power by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The drift toward a one-party system is dangerous,” he said. “It is sad that the same Tinubu who once stood for true federalism and democracy now watches silently as the opposition is dwarfed into irrelevance.”
Farounbi expressed particular concern over recent political developments in Rivers State, including emergency rule declarations and partisan maneuvers, stating that such actions undermine the essence of democratic governance.
“The man we used to know as a democrat is missing. Nigeria needs a rebirth of conscience and a return to true federalism, free from political favoritism,” he concluded.
