A former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the second-term ambition of President Bola Tinubu.
According to her, it is a misplaced priority for Tinubu to be pursuing a second term in office when so many issues remain unresolved in the country.
Speaking on Thursday during an interview appearance on Channels Television, Bucknor-Akerele, who served as Lagos Deputy Governor under the Tinubu administration, said it is unfortunate the President is shifting attention to his second term ambition and neglecting core issues of governance.
She emphasised the urgent need to address issues related to Nigeria’s socio-economic apparatus and security challenges.
“Unfortunately, right now, what I see is that the president is looking for a second term and that seems to be his focus but I think he should try and look at what people like Emeka Anyaoku and so many others of that calibre sat down and they are trying to fashion something that is going to change Nigeria for the future generations.
“I hope that his advisers would be able to tell him that 2027 is not our priority right now; our priority right now is fashioning something that will be able to make Nigeria great again,” Bucknor-Akerele said.
They May Not Get Power
Speaking generally, Bucknor-Akerele warned politicians in the country against focusing on their selfish ambitions while the country’s youths remain jobless.
Naijaonpoint reports that she submitted that if issues of national importance are not addressed, aggrieved youths in the country may prevent politicians seeking power from realizing their objectives.
“We need full employment for our youths. Many of them are roaming the streets, and some are graduates who are now working as security men. Is that what we want for Nigeria? I don’t think so.
“It is urgent; it is not something that should be postponed because some people want to be in power.
“The power which they want, they might not get it, because the youths are now restive and let us pray that things don’t happen and we end up in a revolution in this country,” she said.
The Patriots’ Demand
Bucknor-Akerele, who is also a member of the Patriots group led by former Commonwealth secretary general, Emeka Anyaoku, said the group’s clamour for a new constitution is to secure the lives of current and future generations.
She said urgent steps must be taken to fix Nigeria’s security, economic and educational sectors.
“We need drastic action right now. We are in dire straits in Nigeria. Look at what is happening in our security, our economy, our education system, and our health system are all in a state of flux. We need drastic actions.
“We need a rejig of our security apparatus, there is no doubt about it. We have been calling for state police for a long time…
“We are also for a reduction in the huge amount that is being spent on recurrent expenditure; recurrent expenditure is taking over our budgets.
“So, we have to change the system and have a system that works and is more economical for the people, so that we can improve our social and economic systems.
“We need to have a system where our children can have free education. After all, there was once free education and free healthcare services in parts of Nigeria,” she added.
Nigerians Are Fed Up
The former Deputy Governor insisted that Nigerians are fed up with the current situation under the Tinubu administration and if the government doesn’t reverse its steps, the country may be heading for a disaster.
She said, “I believe that if there is enough pressure on this government, they would have no alternative because there is nowhere in Nigeria that people are not fed up with the situation we are in.
“If this government thinks they can continue as they are continuing, then, I am sorry, I think this country is into disaster.”