The Labour Party’s Lagos State Governorship candidate in the 2023 elections, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has criticised the economic policies introduced by President Bola Tinubu, stating that they have caused severe hardship for Nigerians.
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, President Tinubu has implemented several economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira. However, Rhodes-Vivour, speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today program, alleged that these measures have primarily benefited the President’s associates, bankers, and government officials, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of the policies.
Rhodes-Vivour highlighted the escalating cost of living as evidence of the adverse impact of the reforms, saying, “The people are experiencing unprecedented hardship. Today, over 70 percent of people’s income is spent on transportation and food. They haven’t even started considering how they can afford accommodation.”
He further accused the government of prioritizing wasteful spending and maintaining an extravagant lifestyle while neglecting the welfare of the masses. “The only people who seem to be benefitting from these reforms are perhaps the bankers, those in government, and the President’s friends. How many Nigerians can honestly say they are benefitting from any reform right now?”
Rhodes-Vivour expressed frustration with the government’s approach, adding, “We are witnessing a culture of wastefulness and extravagance, which starkly contrasts with the dire economic situation the President claims requires urgent reform.”
The Labour Party candidate called for a more inclusive and equitable approach to economic reforms, emphasising the need for policies that address the pressing needs of ordinary Nigerians rather than favoring a select few.
