Buhari Likely Laughing At Economic Crisis Under Southwest Leadership – Reuben Abati

Veteran journalist and former media adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, has expressed frustration over Nigeria’s current economic woes.

According to Abati, former President Muhammadu Buhari is likely in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State, laughing at the country’s situation.

Speaking during his role as lead anchor on Arise TV’s Morning Show on Monday, Abati described the current state of the economy as a severe embarrassment, particularly for those from the Southwest, who have often been seen as more capable of managing Nigeria’s economy.

He pointed out that Nigerians are now facing a dire future, where economic hardship has escalated beyond mere hunger to what he termed “energy poverty.”

Abati stated, “Nigerians have now been thrown into energy poverty. We now find ourselves unfortunately in a situation whereby President Muhammadu Buhari, now in his Daura village in Katsina, will be laughing.

“He will say, ‘okay. I think this Yoruba people they say they know the economy. Okay, the economy is now in their hands. They have, they have taken it down. They have mismanaged it.’”

He further criticized the Southwest, where current economic leaders hail from, for failing to show evidence of better management, despite their reputation.

“So this is what we are facing. It’s a gross embarrassment in terms of economic management to people who come from the Southwest, who say that, you know, ‘people from the Southwest are better at managing the economy’. We have not seen that evidence,” Abati added.

Highlighting the rapid rise in prices, he noted, “Schools have increased school fees. Do you know that a stick of Suya is now ₦1850? We can’t even eat Suya again. All within a space of one or two weeks. Nigerians are growing tired. look at Lagos that is supposed to be the business capital of Nigeria, it is a ghost town.”

Abati lamented the effects on Nigerian families, stating, “How many vehicles do you see on the road now? People are rationalizing their lifestyle. Lifestyle is affected, families are affected.

“You know husbands now are beginning to go to the market to make sure that madams do not top up ‘chop’ money in the family because of what has been imposed.”

Fuel prices were another point of concern, with Abati noting that the price of petrol has surged to between ₦1,200 and ₦1,250 per liter in some places. Despite being told to make sacrifices, he argued that those in power were not doing the same.

He also criticized the ongoing confusion surrounding the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over pricing, describing the situation as chaotic and harmful to the country.

“So in the midst of all this confusion we are in a quadrum. Our immediate future hangs in the balance. And the pain is much. It has gone beyond hunger.

“Life is very difficult. And those who claim, who promised that there will be renewed hope, they should not allow that hope to disappear completely,” Abati stated, urging the current leadership to live up to their promises of hope.

“Some people have served notice that they will go on strike. They will go out to the street on October 1 driven by the pain of hunger and the reality of anger. The problem is preventable,” he concluded.