Revolution looms - Ex-SSG Basorun

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Nigeria may be heading towards revolution, unless urgent steps are taken to rekindle citizens’ confidence and hope for a brighter future, former Secretary to Lagos State Government Olorunfunmi Basorun, has warned.

He said the inflationary trend has demonstrated that all the sectors are on their knees, adding that Nigerians are over-burdened by the impact of government’s fiscal irresponsibility, lack of initiative, and loss of economic direction and focus.

Basorun also kicked against the President’s opposition to the convocation of a national conference without deep reflection, adding that he does not love Nigeria. He stressed that only a national conference can address the fundamental questions confronting the country. He doubted his transformational agenda, saying that it is empty.

He said: “The crux of the matter is that Nigeria’s wealth should be re-distributed. The first step is to return the so-called subsidy. That is what the down-trodden can share. I don’t live in Ikoyi and Victoria Island. I live in the village. People now trek. They cannot use commercial motorcycles and buses from Igbogbo to Ikorodu”.

Basorun described the plan to increase electricity tariff as thoughtless and wicked move borne out of gross insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians who do not enjoy regular power supply.

The lawyer and politician said President Goodluck Jonathan has betrayed Nigerians by reneging on his promise on palliatives to cushion the effects of the bitter oil subsidy removal on the first day of this year. He recalled that the removal was in bad faith, stressing that Nigerians outrightly rejected the decision.

Basorun asked the President to resign, saying that he has not shown the trait of a good leader worthy of trust. He said: “Subsidy Re-Investment Empowerment (SURE) Programme is now a camouflage scheme designed to deceive Nigerians and give them a false hope. Following the outcry that trailed the subsidy removal, he set up Kolade Panel. He came up with SURE. He said members of the committee would implement palliative measures.

“Two days ago, there was a PDP top meeting and people came there with document relating to SURE and frowned at it. He said there would be no palliative again because the subsidy was not removed as he would have loved to remove it. He said before that whatever money that was realised would be shared among the federal, state and local governments, but he said that was no longer relevant. This is a wonderful President.