Niger APC Chieftain Vatsa Appeals to President Tinubu to Reevaluate Economic Policies
From Our Correspondent
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism in Niger State, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has described the current economic hardship facing Nigerians as severe, stating that the majority of citizens are stretched to their limits.
Vatsa made these remarks in Minna on Thursday during a Christmas party he hosted at his farm in Gbiko village, a suburb of Minna, for widows, the elderly, and members of the Boys Brigade Band of Nigeria, Niger State chapter.
He emphasized that it is increasingly evident that poor Nigerians can no longer cope with the intense economic strain, pointing to the desperate scramble for food that has led to tragic stampedes across the country. Vatsa argued that this situation indicates a serious hunger crisis.
While appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reassess his administration’s current economic policies, Vatsa clarified that he does not hold the President solely responsible for the nation’s challenges. He noted that “even the enemies of the government know very well that President Tinubu inherited a struggling country from former President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Vatsa pointed out that one of President Tinubu’s significant oversights has been his failure to inform Nigerians about the condition of the country he inherited. He believes this would help citizens understand and appreciate the efforts Tinubu is making to revive the nation from the dire situation he was handed.
According to Vatsa, “Everywhere you go in Nigeria today, you can see poverty and hardship vividly reflected on the faces of the people. The situation is extremely severe, and Nigerians are suffering. However, we cannot blame this current situation solely on the present administration.”
He remarked that the progress made in Nigeria under both military and civilian governments was largely eroded during Buhari’s eight-year term. Vatsa expressed that a primary issue is that President Tinubu has not opened the books on Buhari’s administration to show the extent of the damage inflicted on the country. This lack of transparency has led many Nigerians to mistakenly view Tinubu as part of the problem. He stated, “Buhari ruined the country; the corruption during his tenure was unprecedented, and this is the price Nigeria is paying today.”
Nonetheless, Vatsa insisted that regardless of the challenges inherited from the “visionless Buhari administration,” President Tinubu must take another look at the current economic policies, as many Nigerians are starving. He emphasized, “No matter how well-intentioned a policy may be, it is only the living who will benefit from it. Nigerians who are dying of hunger every day cannot benefit from any policy, no matter how good it is.”
Regarding his decision to gather widows and older people for the Christmas party, Vatsa, who currently serves as a special adviser to Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago, stated that the best way to celebrate the season is by supporting the needy and vulnerable in society. He emphasized, “This is what the season is meant for; it should not be about isolating oneself with just family members.”
Vatsa noted that widows and the elderly are special groups within society and urged individuals to remember them, regardless of the size of their gesture. He quoted the Bible, saying, “It is better to give than to receive. God loves cheerful givers, which is what I am doing today.”
He called on affluent individuals in the country to keep the poor in their thoughts, asserting that the current situation requires sacrifices from one another. He concluded, “No rich person can be comfortable amidst discomfort. Such individuals face threats if they refuse to share.”
