The Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah has responded to President Bola Tinubu’s assertion that the economic situation he inherited was merely a facade. He drew a comparison between the president’s claims and a scenario where someone enters a marriage believing they have wealth and stability, only to discover that those claims were false.
He emphasized that such revelations would inevitably lead to problems, highlighting the frustration many Nigerians feel about the ongoing narrative of unexpected economic challenges. He identified that potential leaders should be acutely aware of the patterns of behavior that precede a change in government. He noted that it is common for outgoing administrations to engage in resource misappropriation, often leading to a significant depletion of funds right before their departure.
He said in an interview with Channels TV from 13:51, ”If you finally get married and your wife and the house you claim you had, you didn’t really have it, or the car you claim you have, you didn’t have it, or the money you claim you have, you didn’t have it, there will be problems. But I think by now Nigerians are a bit sick and tired of hearing these stories of, “we didn’t imagine that things would be as bad as they are.” And also, it speaks to the issues about the level of attentiveness and the level of mental discipline and the level of commitment of people who want to govern us.
Because if I want to be president of Nigeria tomorrow, I would first of all realize that, over the years, I should have an idea that governments, after governments, a month to the exit of any government, there is a massive effort to move resources away. There is that looting spree, and that looting spree probably continues right up to the end of government. So, you would know that if somebody posted that we have $30 billion in our foreign reserves, it is most likely that by the time you really take over, there will be no $30 billion. We should be familiar with these conversations.”