In a video published by Idoma Television, lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju criticized the current administration’s handling of the economy, asserting that they lack the necessary competence and vision.
“You publicly know my position that they are not handling the economy. They don’t even have any idea, just because they were former commissioners in Lagos,” Adeyanju stated.
He further alleged that decision-making in Lagos operates under a directive-based system, saying, “You know in Lagos, all they do is ‘Baba sope’. You know the meaning of ‘Baba sope’—Baba said go and do this.”
Deji questioned the rationale behind the removal of fuel subsidies, describing it as a misguided approach that undermines economic stability.
“There’s no economic sense that will tell you that you’ve lost half of your GDP, you are battling inflation, and you now believe that the best way to improve your economy is to remove the cushion—the thing holding your economy. Subsidy is the stability holding the economy,” Adeyanju argued.
“You say remove it and give it to thieves in the states. Which state that they have given more money now has done more work than before? Name one state where the money they said you are saving is working.”
Drawing a vivid analogy, Adeyanju continued, “For instance, you are doing contributions (ajo), and after we do the contributory ajo, we now say let’s give it to the most dishonest person in the society.”
“Who are the governors? You are doing a service to the nation by taking our collective wealth. Immediately you give it to them, they change it to dollars at the end of the month.”
Adeyanju said that many government officials operate Bureau de Change businesses, a fact he claims is well-known to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“All of them have Bureau de Change, and the EFCC knows. This thing I’m saying, you can go and verify it,” Adeyanju stated.
“What economic sense does it make for you to save money and give it to thieves? That’s what I call the sense of Kagawa—it doesn’t make any sense.”