By Damiete Braide
The pan-Nigerian social welfarist group, Afenifere, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt a more holistic and integrated approach to addressing Nigeria’s mounting economic and political challenges.
The group expressed deep concern over the President’s recent remarks during a visit by the Patriot Group to Aso Rock Villa, suggesting that his current strategy is misaligned with the expectations of the Nigerian people.
In a statement released by Afenifere’s National Leader, Chief Ayo Adebayo, and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, the group emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive approach that tackles both economic reforms and the more deep-rooted political restructuring simultaneously. Afenifere criticized the President’s narrow focus on economic reforms, asserting that this approach ignores the foundational political issues that have long hindered Nigeria’s progress.
Afenifere pointed out that President Tinubu’s response, which prioritized addressing economic hardships through fiscal and monetary policies before attending to restructuring, reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the intertwined nature of Nigeria’s political and economic crises.
The group argued that focusing solely on economic reforms without addressing the political structures that underpin these issues would ultimately be counterproductive.
“Politics is how we organize to do things, while economics is the means to do those things. In practice, they are inseparable at the root of our current problems,” the statement read. Afenifere stressed that Nigeria’s economic challenges are deeply rooted in a political system that was designed not for prosperity but for control and dependency on an exploitative center.
The group further highlighted that the country’s over-centralized government and skewed constitution have resulted in the relinquishment of its social responsibilities to free market forces.
Afenifere argued that this has led to both the government and the governed being under-optimized, necessitating a comprehensive restructuring to establish a new social contract with clearly defined political and economic responsibilities.
Drawing parallels to historical precedents, Afenifere referenced the U.S. Great Depression of 1929 and the subsequent New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as British Keynesianism.
The group noted that these crises, though severe, were not as prolonged or devastating as Nigeria’s ongoing economic collapse, marked by a 1000% devaluation of the Naira, skyrocketing unemployment and inflation, and a significant reduction in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since 2014.
According to Afenifere, Nigeria requires more than just economic reforms—it needs far-reaching political and economic restructuring.
The group called for the devolution of power to federating units, as outlined in the El-Rufai Committee report, which was commissioned by the President’s own party.
This, they argued, is necessary for maintaining peace, harmony, and the continued corporate existence of Nigeria. Afenifere believes that such restructuring is essential for creating a polycentric political system that would enable a bottom-up economic approach, crucial for sustainable development.
“For example, agriculture, which is the largest contributor to our GDP, is threatened due to the over-centralization of our police force, which hampers effective local policing.
Additionally, states are constitutionally wired to be economically dependent on federal allocations from crude oil proceeds, while vast resources within these states remain untapped due to constitutional restrictions,” the group explained.
Afenifere proposed that, similar to Roosevelt’s New Deal, Nigeria should embark on massive public works programs to create employment and develop necessary infrastructure.
They suggested that within three years, the government could build at least 5,000 kilometers of railway across key routes, develop massive low-cost housing projects, and install solar energy panels.
These initiatives should be coupled with constitutional amendments aimed at devolving power to local governments and traditional polities, thereby enabling a self-sustaining economy.
The group warned against the neo-liberal economic perspective that advocates for balancing budgets and removing subsidies before addressing structural issues. Afenifere argued that this approach neglects the necessary infrastructural and constitutional reforms needed for long-term economic stability and growth. They urged President Tinubu to shift ideologically away from these policies, which have led to poverty, unemployment, and de-industrialization in Nigeria.
Afenifere called for a restructuring of the police force to enhance local security and suggested a partnership between the federal government and the military to employ millions of unemployed Nigerians in building infrastructure. This, they argued, would not only address the immediate economic challenges but also lay the foundation for a prosperous and stable Nigeria. Afenifere’s statement underlined the necessity of tackling political and economic restructuring simultaneously, guided by a new social contract that reflects the socio-political and economic realities of the country.