society
Nigeria in Reverse: How Tinubu’s APC Borrowed More in Two Years Than Buhari Did in Eight; With Nothing to Show for It. (Opinion)
Nigeria in Reverse: How Tinubu’s APC Borrowed More in Two Years Than Buhari Did in Eight; With Nothing to Show for It. (Opinion)
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took over the reins of power in 2023, many Nigerians, even the skeptics, clung to a faint hope; hope that maybe, just maybe… the man who paraded himself as the “MASTER STRATEGIST” would finally change the economic trajectory of Nigeria. That hope, within two years, has been completely dashed. The data is damning and the suffering is deafening.
Under Muhammadu Buhari’s administration (2015–2023), the Nigerian government borrowed approximately ₦48 trillion. While the debt burden was heavy, it at least came with visible government intervention in the form of fuel subsidies, electricity subsidies, education support and other forms of economic cushioning that gave ordinary Nigerians a modicum of survival. Yet, even that regime was widely criticized for mismanagement, insecurity and sluggish governance.
But today, in less than two years, Bola Tinubu and his economic team (if one can even call it that) have borrowed ₦96 trillion, doubling Buhari’s eight-year debt figure without the shield of fuel subsidies, education support or telecom interventions. This is not just incompetence, it is daylight economic terrorism, weaponized against a helpless population.
“It is one thing to borrow; it is another to waste what you borrow while punishing the poor,” said economist Dr. Abubakar Sule in an interview with The Guardian. “Tinubu has weaponized suffering and made debt an addiction.”
The Illusion of Reform.
The Tinubu administration’s favorite buzzword is “REFORM.” He claimed that removing the fuel subsidy was a bold step towards economic recovery. Nigerians now know the bitter truth: the so-called subsidy removal was never about reform, but a revenue hijack.
Today, fuel prices have skyrocketed to over ₦900 per litre in some states. Transportation, food prices and basic goods have all become luxuries to the average citizen. Meanwhile, state-backed relief efforts remain largely cosmetic, if not completely non-existent.
Yet, the Tinubu led APC GOVERNMENT keeps BORROWING.
Where is the money going? Infrastructure? No. Healthcare? No. Education? Not even close. Security? Zero.
Instead, we’re seeing lavish government spending on luxury convoys, foreign trips, vanity projects like the N10 billion solar panels for Aso Rock and an obscene increase in the cost of governance. To quote Professor Pat Utomi, “This government behaves like a carnival of clowns dancing on the graves of the poor.”
The Death of Education and Social Protection.
Under Buhari, Nigeria’s public universities went on strike multiple times, but at least there were subsidies and dialogue. Under Tinubu, universities are crumbling, secondary school education is deteriorating and teachers are unpaid across several states. Yet the President recently announced scholarships for foreign students in St. Lucia, while Nigerian students sit idle in classrooms without chairs, teachers or hope.
How does a president remove educational subsidies at home and then dish out scholarships abroad? That is not statesmanship; it is state-sponsored stupidity.
In the words of Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, “We are living in a time when our leaders treat Nigeria as a burden they must escape from, not a country they are building.”
The Subsidy Lie and Economic Collapse.
When Tinubu removed fuel subsidies in May 2023, he proclaimed: “Subsidy is gone!” Nigerians cheered, hoping the savings would lead to increased capital projects, job creation and economic growth.
What has followed is an ECONOMIC HORROR MOVIE. The removal of fuel subsidy without any social cushioning measures has plunged millions into multi-dimensional poverty. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 133 million Nigerians are now classified as multi-dimensionally poor. This is not just a number; it is a nation being eaten alive from within.
Worse still, the government still pays quasi-subsidies through NNPC in a complex web of opaque forex deals. According to a report by Premium Times, the government secretly paid over ₦3.6 trillion in “under-recovery” to oil marketers in the past year alone proving that subsidy is not dead, it has just changed clothes and gone underground.
So what then was the purpose of the suffering?
A Government of Borrowers and Beggars.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed in Q1 2025 that the country’s public debt now stands at over ₦121 trillion, with Tinubu’s administration accounting for ₦96 trillion of that figure. This level of borrowing in just 23 months is not only unsustainable; it is economic sabotage disguised as policy.
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has warned that the country is now spending 96% of its revenue on debt servicing. That means out of every ₦100 the government earns, ₦96 goes to repaying debt, leaving only ₦4 for education, healthcare, infrastructure and security.
This is not GOVERNANCE. This is NATIONAL ECONOMIC ENSLAVEMENT.
Agents of APC vs Agents of Change.
It must be said loud and clear: anyone who is against the coalition movement to unseat APC in 2027 is an enemy of the Nigerian people. They are either benefitting from this disaster or are complicit in its continuation. Every well-meaning Nigerian, regardless of party lines, tribe or religion, must now unite behind a people-centered coalition.
This is no longer about party politics; it is about NATIONAL SURVIVAL.
The Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and splinter PDP blocs forming a revolutionary alliance is not a threat to democracy, it is democracy’s last hope. The fear the ruling party is showing (blocking event venues, intimidating coalition leaders and promoting disinformation) is a confirmation that they are threatened by the truth.
“When the government is more afraid of a coalition than Boko Haram, you know the system is collapsing,” said activist and writer Aisha Yesufu.
APC Must Go: 2027 is Non-Negotiable.
The 2023 election was marred by INEC’s failure, judicial compromise and massive electoral manipulation. Despite the controversy, Bola Tinubu was sworn in; but legitimacy cannot be enforced by courts alone, it must be earned through service, competence and results.
Tinubu has failed on all three counts.
The APC has destroyed the ECONOMY, eroded HUMAN DIGNITY and CRIMINALIZED the right to PROTEST. Under their watch:
The naira collapsed from ₦450/$ to over ₦1,500/$.
Inflation soared to over 34% as of May 2025.
Food prices have more than tripled, with basic items like rice costing over ₦70,000 per bag.
Unemployment and underemployment have become the norm.
Nigerians cannot afford another four years of this nightmare. 2027 must be the end of APC and the beginning of a people-first era.
Final Word.
We must not be fooled by propaganda, token gestures or last-minute giveaways as 2027 approaches. Nigeria is on life support and the ventilator is failing. The debt crisis, the collapse of social systems and the impoverishment of the masses are all signs of a failed state in the making.
We can still change the story. The coalition is the beginning of Nigeria’s rescue mission and those who oppose it are either afraid of change or accomplices in destruction.
“When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
In 2027, Nigerians must choose resistance. The future of over 200 million people is at stake.
#EndAPCMisrule #CoalitionForRescue #NigeriaWillRiseAgain
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
society
Liberian Leaders, Citizens Bear Witness as Apostle Suleman Hosts Two-Day Power-Packed Crusade
Liberian Leaders, Citizens Bear Witness as Apostle Suleman Hosts Two-Day Power-Packed Crusade
It was testimonies galore on Tuesday, March 31, the first day of the famous servant of God and founder of the Omega Fire Ministries (OFM) worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman’s power-packed two-day crusade. The event documented impactful moments with the Gospel and miracles, emphasizing the power of faith and the tangible confirmation of God’s Word through signs and wonders. It was equally an atmosphere of miraculous healing, restoration of lives, and the strengthening of faith.
At the crusade, which was held at the SKD Sports Stadium in Paynesville City, and themed, “Liberia Outpouring Crusade” witnessed testimonies of impact and miracles with participants experiencing instant healing of various kinds of challenges.
Apostle Suleman’s first port of call was Paynesville, the office of Liberian government’s president, Mr. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, who received him in an audience with his junior ministers. Apostle Suleman, who also met with the vice-president, Mr. Jeremiah Kpan Koung, was welcomed by the Liberian leader’s office as part of the president’s ongoing engagements with religious leaders aimed at fostering spiritual support for national development.
The president expressed profound appreciation to Apostle Suleman for the visit and continued prayers and intercessions by men and women of God on behalf of Liberia, emphasizing his firm belief that sustained spiritual guidance and prayer remain vital to the transformation and progress of the nation.
During the visit, Apostle Suleman offered prayers for President Boakai, his cabinet and the Liberian nation, invoking divine alignment, wisdom, and insight in Liberia’s path toward growth and stability. He prayed that the Almighty God would position Liberia for relevance and fulfillment of its national destiny.
Apostle Johnson Suleman, an evangelist who knows no bounds of where preaching the gospel comes to a stop, visited Liberia prepared with the message, compelling power of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, and bringing people to a point of decision where they surrendered their lives to Christ.
Aside from being prophetic and timely, OFM sources disclosed that the servant of God’s visit underscores the importance of faith-based partnerships in supporting governance and national renewal efforts.
society
Middle Belt Forum Hails Tinubu’s Jos Visit, Calls for United Civil-Military Effort to Restore Lasting Peace
*Middle Belt Forum Hails Tinubu’s Jos Visit, Calls for United Civil-Military Effort to Restore Lasting Peace
The Middle Belt Peace Forum (MBPF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his profound demonstration of empathy and responsive leadership following his decision to postpone an official engagement in Iperu in order to visit victims of the recent attacks in Jos.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Pastor Bulus Garba, in Jos on Friday, the Forum said the President’s decision to personally identify with grieving communities sends a powerful message of solidarity and reinforces public confidence in the commitment of the Federal Government to the protection of lives and property.
“The Middle Belt Peace Forum warmly commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising compassion over ceremony. At a time of deep sorrow for the people of Plateau State, his decision to visit Jos stands as a mark of true leadership—one that listens, responds, and stands with the people in their moment of pain,” the statement read.
The Forum described the perpetrators of the recent attacks as “cowards who prey on innocent and defenceless citizens,” stressing that such acts of violence are not only inhumane but also a direct assault on the unity and peace of the nation.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the actions of these cowardly attackers whose only aim is to instil fear and destabilise peaceful communities. Their actions must be met with firm and decisive resistance from all arms of the state,” Pastor Garba said.
The MBPF further used the opportunity to salute the courage, gallantry, and sacrifices of the Armed Forces of Nigeria under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, noting that their continued efforts remain central to restoring stability across troubled parts of the country.
According to the Forum, the Armed Forces have demonstrated resilience and professionalism in the face of complex security challenges, often operating under difficult conditions to safeguard communities and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
“We salute the Armed Forces of Nigeria for their unwavering commitment and sacrifices. Their gallantry in confronting criminal elements and reclaiming territories is a testament to their dedication to national service. We recognise that the path to peace is demanding, and we honour those who stand daily in defence of our nation,” the statement added.
The Forum pledged its full support to ongoing military operations and called for strengthened collaboration between security agencies and local communities as a critical factor in achieving lasting peace.
It also urged citizens across the Middle Belt to cooperate with security forces by providing timely information and fostering unity within their communities.
The MBPF, however, expressed concern over the need for greater synergy among security agencies, particularly the role of the Nigeria Police in consolidating gains made by the military.
“We call on the Nigeria Police Force to rise fully to its constitutional responsibility by effectively supporting the Armed Forces in stabilising and securing areas that have been cleared of criminal elements. Holding and policing such territories is essential to preventing a resurgence of violence,” Pastor Garba stated.
The Forum emphasised that sustainable peace requires a coordinated approach in which the military clears and secures areas, while the police maintain law and order to enable displaced communities to return and rebuild their lives.
The MBPF concluded by reiterating its commitment to peacebuilding efforts across the Middle Belt and expressed optimism that with sustained leadership, coordinated security efforts, and active citizen participation, lasting peace can be achieved.
“Together, through unity, vigilance, and collective resolve, we can overcome these challenges and build a safer and more peaceful Middle Belt,” the statement added.
Governor Dauda Lawal Wins Face of Africa Governor of the Year Award in London
Governor Dauda Lawal has been honored with the Outstanding Governor of the Year award by Triangle Media International Magazine.
The award was presented during the magazine’s 10th annual lecture and award ceremony, held on Thursday at the Grand Hall of King’s College, London, United Kingdom.
According to a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the awards recognize public and private sector leaders whose leadership positively impacts governance and service delivery.
He added that the lecture, themed “Harnessing the Roles of Nigerians in Diaspora for National Development,” brought together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
The statement read in part: “Yesterday, in London, Governor Dauda Lawal received the 2026 Face of Africa Leadership Award for Outstanding Governor of the Year.
“The 2026 edition coincides with the 10th anniversary of Triangle International Magazine, which has over the years celebrated notable Africans across diverse fields.
“The award recognizes the Zamfara State Government under Governor Lawal’s leadership for achieving remarkable milestones in service delivery since his inauguration on 29 May 2023.
“The board of Triangle International noted that, despite inheriting an empty treasury, Governor Dauda Lawal has remained true to the Rescue Agenda’s campaign promise: to rescue and rebuild Zamfara.
“The award also reflects the state government’s innovative approach to indirectly curbing insecurity through educational advancement, demonstrated by the declaration of a state of emergency in the education sector.
“This includes the state government’s swift payment of the outstanding N3.4 billion for WAEC and NECO examinations, as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools across all 14 Local Government Areas of Zamfara State.
“The international magazine finds these initiatives to be strategic interventions toward long-term efforts to make Zamfara State better.”
The colourful event was attended by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Sahara Group’s Group Managing Director, Kola Adesina, among others.
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