Nigerians’ Purchasing Power Eroded, Millions Hungry – C&S Prelate Tells Tinubu
The Prelate of the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim (ESOCS), Baba Aladura David Bob-Manuel (Orimolade IX), has warned President Bola Tinubu about the dire economic situation facing millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at a news conference in Lagos to unveil plans for the church’s centenary celebration, Bob-Manuel lamented that the country’s socio-economic crisis has continued to worsen under Tinubu
“There is an incredibly high cost of living, Naira has depreciated grossly, thereby eroding the purchasing power and fueling economic hardship and anxiety,” said the ESOCS Supreme Head who noted that millions of citizens are not just living in poverty but hungry and angry.
According to Bob-Manuel, there is a stark contrast between the suffering of ordinary citizens and the extravagance of public office holders.
He said this was responsible for public discontent and recent protests in parts of the country.
Bob-Manuel stressed that millions of families are living in abject poverty aside from the challenges of insecurity, hunger and unemployment.
“Adding to the public discontent is the extravagance of public office holders. Indeed, millions of Nigerians are hungry and angry, hopes have dwindled and anger is ignited.
“This had necessitated the protests which rocked bustling metropolis and cities. Government should address frontally all issues the youths were bitterly complaining of,” Bob-Manuel said.
He said that conflicts between farmers and herders, abduction and banditry had made most farmers to abandon their farms which had brought economic woes with high cost of staple food.
“To address this issue headlong, the youth should be provided jobs to do. An idle hand is devil’s workshop,” the prelate added.
Advocating more empowerment for security architectures and agencies to combat crime and any form of insecurity, Baba Aladura said that security must be kept out of politics.
He said that modern technologies should be deplored to fight the criminals involved in this menace.
He urged the Federal and State Governments to urgently implement more social welfare schemes that would protect the vulnerable population from the impact of higher fuel prices.
Baba Aladura advised that investment in the agricultural sector could provide millions of jobs to address rising unemployment in the country.
