Despite soaring poverty, Tinubu budgets N13.8bn for past leaders’ upkeep
President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigerians to bear with him while he fixes the country. He told them that there would be pains, which they must withstand so as to have a country of their dream. Yet his own administration would not be ready to have a taste from the same pills he is serving the people.
His government has earmarked a sum of thirteen billion and eight hundred million naira for the past heads of state and their deputies. The figure is contained in the 2024 appropriation bill he submitted in the past week.
Most, if not all, of the leaders plunged Nigerians into hardship and poverty with their actions and inactions. They benefited a lot by milking the country, appropriating billions, if not trillions of naira for their personal use. None of the past leaders of the country could claim to be suffering as Nigerian are right now.
The beneficiaries include Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Others are ex-military Heads of State, General Yakubu Gowon and General Abdusalami Abubakar, as well as a former dictator and self-styled military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, and a former Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.).
Perhaps the passionate appeal the president made to Nigerians didn’t concern the past leaders who se living a very big and luxurious life already. He told millions of Nigerians to offer sacrifice and bear the unbearable pains, yet the past leaders are smiling to the banks.
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