08/11/2025
Mr. President, You Did Not Inherit a Dilapidated Nigeria — You Are Worsening It
— Emir Mohammed Sanusi’s Message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I strongly disagree with your claim that you inherited a dilapidated Nigeria from your predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Your administration’s spending patterns contradict this assertion. Below are my reasons:
Extravagant and Unjustifiable Expenditures Under Your Leadership:
₦21 billion allocated for renovating the Vice President's residence.
₦70 billion given to National Assembly members to purchase SUVs — each vehicle costing ₦160 million.
₦4 billion for renovation of Dodan Barracks and an additional ₦3 billion for Aguda House.
₦5 billion handed to the Presidential Tax Reforms Committee (less than 20 members), headed by Taiwo Oyedele, with no tangible outcome.
₦1.5 billion allocated for vehicles for the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu — despite the fact that the Office of the First Lady is not recognized by the Constitution.
A 300% salary increase for judges, passed swiftly by an indifferent and irresponsible Senate.
₦5 billion budgeted for the presidential fleet.
₦5 billion for a presidential yacht.
A staggering ₦225 billion allegedly spent on a new presidential jet.
₦90 billion allocated for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
Billions spent on foreign trips for yourself and the Vice President at the expense of suffering citizens.
Every senator now earns ₦21 million monthly, and House of Representatives members ₦13.5 million monthly — all salary hikes approved under your administration.
The ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road contract was allegedly awarded illegally to your associate, Gilbert Chagoury, who was previously repatriated under former President Obasanjo.
Alarming Governance Trends:
You have appointed the largest cabinet in Nigeria’s history — how is this being financed?
You created a new Ministry of Livestock Development — what about the Oronsaye Report, which recommended merging and downsizing MDAs to reduce costs?
Where is the fuel subsidy savings? How much has been saved, and what was it used for? Nigerians demand transparency.
What Nigerians Are Facing:
Cost of governance has skyrocketed, not decreased.
Fuel subsidy was removed without cushioning measures.
Electricity tariffs have been hiked.
Education and healthcare are now unaffordable for the average Nigerian.
Prices of food and basic goods are beyond reach.
Insecurity and killings have increased.
The economy has deteriorated significantly.
Unemployment is rising.
Corruption has been institutionalized.
Nepotism is rampant.
Security votes and leaders' allowances remain untouched.
There are zero direct support systems for the Nigerian citizen.
Your government's slogan of “Renewed Hope” has turned into renewed hopelessness, destitution, and deception.
Mr. President, your lifestyle, and that of your ministers, governors, and top officials — including service chiefs and heads of agencies — reflect reckless opulence, not the austerity of a “dilapidated” nation. Leaders are getting richer. Citizens are growing poorer.
Your personal transformation — physically, mentally, and financially — in contrast to the suffering of Nigerians, is a glaring indictment of your administration.
This trajectory must be reversed immediately.
This is just a glimpse of the insensitive and reckless leadership we are currently enduring.
