The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to listen more to Nigerians expressing concerns about poverty and economic hardship instead of portraying them as enemies of the government.
Sanusi criticised the Federal Government’s tendency to issue statements from the Presidential Villa in response to criticisms of its economic policies, insisting that speaking about poverty should not be interpreted as a personal attack on the President.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor made the remarks while speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank conference convened by former World Bank Vice President, Arunma Oteh.
He said the government needed to distinguish between genuine public concerns and political hostility, stressing that Nigerians raising questions about their economic conditions deserved to be heard.
“President Tinubu’s government needs to listen more. It’s not every time people talk about poverty that you just issue a statement from the Villa and condemn them as enemies of the government or an attack on the President,” he said.
Sanusi recalls Nigeria’s economic crisis
The traditional ruler also recalled that Nigeria was approaching hyperinflation and economic collapse in 2023, warning that the severity of the situation was not fully appreciated at the time.
According to him, he had consistently raised concerns about the country’s economic direction, including during his tenure as CBN governor.
Sanusi, however, acknowledged that some progress had been made in moving the economy away from the brink of collapse, particularly through efforts to moderate inflation.
Despite the progress, he maintained that the administration must do more to address the economic difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians.
His comments come amid continuing public concerns over the rising cost of living following the removal of petrol subsidy and foreign exchange reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration in 2023.
The Emir’s intervention adds to calls for greater government engagement with citizens and constructive criticism as the administration pursues its economic reform agenda.
Source: Legit.ng.
