Dino Melaye has labelled Tinubu’s Administration “Reckless,” and blamed the government for worsening economic hardship.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling it “one of the most reckless in the history of this country” due to alleged wastage, poor planning, and the deepening economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
Melaye made the remarks on Monday evening during an interview on Arise News Prime Time, highlighting what he described as questionable spending priorities amid rising hunger and economic distress.
Extravagant Spending Amid Austerity
The former lawmaker accused the president of contradicting his campaign pledge to curb wastage, citing the purchase of a luxury yacht that has reportedly never been used in Nigerian waters.
“This government is one of the most reckless in the history of this country. The president, who said he wanted to curb wastages, bought a yacht. That yacht has never been to the territorial waters of Nigeria; it is between Monaco and Paris. What do we need a yacht for in a time of austerity and pervasive hunger?” Melaye said.
He also alleged the acquisition of a new presidential jet worth billions of naira, dismissing the presidency’s claim that it was a gift.
“I am telling you that it was purchased. Gift by who? Gifts have to be declared. If you have a gift, declare who gave it to you. They called it a gift because the money used to purchase that aircraft was not appropriated by the National Assembly,” he claimed.
Melaye further criticized Tinubu’s choice of official vehicle, arguing the president abandoned the traditional Mercedes Benz S-Class for a more luxurious, bombproof Mercedes model “the same type that Trump uses in America.”
National Assembly Budget and Subsidy Removal
The former lawmaker accused the president of inflating the National Assembly budget, alleging it was done to exert tighter control over lawmakers.
“In the Eighth Senate, the budget of the National Assembly was ₦150 billion. Today, the president has increased it to over ₦370 billion in order to make them a parastatal or department of the Villa,” he said.
Melaye also condemned Tinubu’s removal of the fuel subsidy on his inauguration day, calling it a “monumental error” that worsened poverty and hunger.
“He did the right thing in the wrong way. There was no planning, no succour, no buffers, no ameliorative measures. He did not even take briefs from those who know. Today, Nigerians are not only unhappy, but there is massive hunger in the land,” Melaye argued.
Dismissing Economic Claims
Responding to government claims of improving economic performance, Melaye cited continued borrowing as evidence that the statistics are misleading.
“If those statistics are correct, why is the president borrowing $1.7 billion from the World Bank? It is not correct to say they have stopped borrowing. What has the Senate approved so far? $21 billion with many others coming for consideration,” he stated.
Melaye concluded by warning that Nigeria’s economic situation remains precarious, stressing that without urgent corrective measures, the administration’s policies will exacerbate poverty and hunger.