It has not mattered so much that the President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu has thought up innovative ways to raise government revenue since he assumed office; the way the picture looks to observers is that all these monies have been going into the wrong things.

For instance, the Ovation Magazine publisher Dele Momodu, who is considered a friend of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, has told the president to moderate his expensive government to make room for ordinary Nigerians to truly breathe, but will he listen quickly enough and avoid a protest?

Momodu on Monday evening while being an interview guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today programme, thinks he should listen.

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Live with the much refreshed host Seun Okinbaloye after a holiday, Chief Momodu recalled the past life he shared with President Tinubu working together with other allies to restore democratic governance in Nigeria. This was during the strict years of the 90s military dictatorship led by General Sani Abacha.

The remembrance by the publisher was coming off the background of an open letter he had directed to his friend that talked about how to truly dish out a renewed hope agenda. I’m writing [to] you today, not because I expect you to act on my suggestions, but to put it on record that someone gave you the true picture of things. I’m also hoping that some of your friends will read and interpret to you, a sober moment, reads part of the letter posted on Chief Momodu’s X account last week.

RE: URGENT MESSAGE FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU

I have just read Mr Reno Omokri’s response to my earlier article, titled URGENT MESSAGE FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU. Since I’m not a fan of fake economic theories that bear no positive impact on society and the citizens, I won’t waste my readers’… pic.twitter.com/eNMoItYplX

— Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) July 19, 2024

Noises on social media urging a strong reaction by the citizens in response to the very difficult economic life they are living has brewed up to a planned August protest expected to go on nationwide. At this critical time when things seem to be only getting worse, the publisher wants Mr President to take a step back and review his policies.

Right there at the Channels TV Lagos studio on 22 July, the guest told Bola Tinubu’s government to cut the waste. Doing this, according to publisher Momodu, ought to be the top action of an administration serious about recovery.

In addition to this, empower our youths by igniting a vocational revolution, he says. It is not just about people going to school. We have so many graduates – if not millions of them now who can’t find jobs. There are things you can do. Now they said they are sending ₦50,000 to about 3 million Nigerians. How does that make sense in a country of about 200 million people?

On his part, President Bola Tinubu would feel that he has done better than what critics have been highlighting as his flaws or inactions.

Already, university undergrads can now get loans if they should find themselves struggling with school finances and also, with the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) underway, Nigerians will soon start boarding cheap commercial transport because a fleet of up to 30,000 vehicles will soon hit the road.

These initiatives help, but there can be more, according to Dele Momodu. Kill this profligacy. That is number one. According to him, the economy – no matter what you do, if you continue to borrow money to fund lifestyle, you will continue to fail. The president must make that personal choice and personal sacrifice by calling his people to order and making himself a scapegoat.

If I were in his shoes, that is the first thing I would do. Look at this issue of [the] presidential jet, people shouted against it, [but] they didn’t listen.

Outside Dele Momodu’s Politics Today interview, the president is seeking to persuade Nigerians planning an August demonstration to shelve the plan. The call to abandon the protest was made by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris during a chat with State House reporters yesterday.

Also yesterday, there was a report concerning a high-priority meeting happening today, which will be hosted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume.

Those making the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Conference Room quorum expectedly first on the list are the Secretary who is the host. After him will be all federal ministers, a couple of special advisers to President Tinubu, and a former cabinet member who handled the Minister of Youth and Sports role Sunday Dare.

All these characters are currently looking out for a pathway to avoid fresh rounds of dissent in the country and they will be wishing luck will be on their side before August comes.

But where authentic good fortunes can come from, it seems, will be a speedy turnaround of the dire economic situation. That probably means scarce money getting into people’s hands without further delay.

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Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.