Criticising Tinubu For Economic Bankruptcy, Insecurity Will Have Consequences, Matawalle Threatens Nigerians

Making “unwarranted” and “unguarded statements” against President Bola Tinubu’s administration regarding insecurity and growing food prices, according to State Minister of Defense Bello Matawalle, will have repercussions.

Mr. Matawalle “cautioned Nigerians against using inflammatory comments against the government,” according to a statement released on Friday by Henshaw Ogubike, the spokesperson for the ministry of defense.

“Unguarded remarks coming from some segments of the public are cutting and damaging and can heighten tensions and spark violence in our beloved country,” the speaker stated.

Mr. Matawalle stated that Mr. Tinubu “is making every effort to address the economic difficulties that Nigerians are facing.” In their never-ending efforts to reduce the burdens facing the Nigerian people, the President and his team are cautioning the agents of discord not to make any more unjustified statements because doing so will have repercussions.

Anger over financial hardship and escalating food prices followed Mr. Matawalle’s warning. The nation’s inflation rate rose from 28.92 percent in December 2023 to 29.90 percent in January 2024, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics.

The Nigerian Labour Congress announced a two-day nationwide protest over the issue last week, while protests against the high cost of food were held in Niger, Kano, and Osun states.

Amidst the developments, Wasiu Ayinde “KWAM1” of Fuji music and Olaiya Igwe, an actor from Nollywood who supported Mr. Tinubu, have expressed concern about the nation’s growing commodity process.

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A rebellion against President Bola Tinubu’s administration would likely be prompted by the nation’s growing poverty, hunger, and insecurity, according to the Northern Traditional Council, which is led by Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

In response, Mr. Tinubu gave the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security instructions to distribute roughly 42,000 metric tonnes of grain—including garri, millet, and maize—across the nation.

On Thursday, Mr. Tinubu gave the Nigeria Police, the State Security Service, and National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu orders to pursue food hoarders.

The release of “cereals from the grain reserve, provided subsidised fertiliser to farmers,” among other actions taken by Mr. Tinubu “to ease the impact of rapidly rising inflation on living conditions,” was praised by the International Monetary Fund in a summary of its assessment of the Nigerian economy.