Yoruba Elders to Tinubu: Don’t Deepen Our Suffering with Petrol Price Hike

The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) has raised concerns over the growing hardship in Nigeria, urging President Bola Tinubu to take swift action to alleviate the suffering of the Nigerian people.

The council’s worries were made public in a statement by its General Secretary, Oladipo Oyewole, who expressed that while there is hope for positive change, the current reality in the country is challenging.

In their statement, the YCE emphasized: “The YCE remains hopeful that Nigeria will have a turnaround. However, going by scanty information available on government pursuits and activities, there is presently a lot of suffering on the land.”

The Yoruba Council of Elders highlighted the daily struggles faced by citizens, attributing part of the hardship to the rising prices of essential commodities, including petroleum products.

The council also pointed to the ongoing electricity issues that continue to disrupt the lives of many Nigerians. They insisted that these challenges cannot be ignored and called on the government to take immediate and effective steps to improve the standard of living.

In their words, “Without regular supply of electricity and with the official announcement of an increase in the price of Petroleum Products (PMS), the current hardship cannot but be increased in daily living by Nigerians.”

The YCE suggested that instead of focusing on temporary solutions like distributing palliatives, the Federal Government should concentrate on long-term governance strategies that deliver meaningful results.

“The Federal Government ought to immediately pursue every avenue to make available to our people, the dividends of democracy,” the statement read.

The council also emphasized that all Nigerians are entitled to enjoy the nation’s common resources. “Every Nigerian should be entitled to enjoy our common resources. Indeed, Nigerians are suffering deeply at this time, no light, no fuel, no food,” the statement continued.

YCE’s appeal to President Tinubu was clear: Address the people’s immediate needs while planning for Nigeria’s long-term development. “Mr. President should, without delay, revisit his drawing board to attend to the short-term needs of Nigerians (the immediate needs of the people) whilst pursuing the long-term vision of making Nigeria a better place for growth and development,” the elders advised.

Finally, the Yoruba Council of Elders concluded their statement with a sad reminder of the current reality, describing it as “a pill that has a bitter taste.” They expressed the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes the well-being of the masses and ensures that every Nigerian can live with dignity and comfort.

As the country continues to face economic and social difficulties, the YCE’s call serves as a strong reminder that swift action is necessary to alleviate the suffering of millions nationwide.

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