CITIZENS, weekend, lamented the ever-increasing incapacity of millions of Nigerians to put food on their tables, calling on President Ahmed Tinubu to radically, and directly, trim down the cost of governance. They said an average Nigerian was suffering, yet, irritatingly, the executive undertakes wasteful expenditures, while the legislature turned its eyes from the appalling extravaganza.

A chieftain of the pan-Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, told Press on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State: “This government is very insensitive to the plight of Nigerians. My advice will not matter to them. This government does not have any shame. They do not even care whether ordinary Nigerians survive or not. They are wasting money in this country, while millions of Nigerians are dying on daily basis because of hunger and other avoidable circumstances.

“I am tired of this country. What is happening here cannot happen in other developed climes. We cannot continue to spend money on frivolities when the millions of people are suffering. The cost of living is so high, yet government is spending billions on daily basis on things that do not matter.

The Secretary, Itsekiri leaders of Thought , ILoT, in Delta State, Sir Sunny Mene, who spoke in Warri, said, “Nigerians are very critical of the Federal Government proposed 2024 Budgetary allocations because the average Nigerian is passing through very difficult times. The current hyper inflation and the removal of subsidy on petroleum products have exposed Nigerians to hardship.The Federal Government has repeatedly said that it was aware of what Nigerians are going through. On this backdrop, the government must endeavor to reduce the cost of governance.

Also, a frontline lawyer and former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Mumakhai Unagha, fumed: “This is another government we call ‘Paddy Paddy, Chop, I chop government,’ according to our music legend, the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. It seems the government is not for the common person; hence, they could not justify the overblown delegation to Dubai.

It is absolute recklessness, wastage of economic resources of sending 50 delegates, let alone 1441 persons from Nigeria to Dubai for climate change. I just hope that Mr. President will not continue in that way. Nigerians are hungry, dying on a daily bases due to hunger, yet the Federal Government, and its agencies will be gladly involved in such a wasteful venture. It calls for sober reflection.

There is no justification at all. Someone somewhere will be taking the nation for granted. I hope that this administration may not be worse than that of the former president. When I raised the alarm of maladministration of the previous government, they accused me of anti party activity, but the situation today has vindicated me. At a time when an average Nigerian cannot put food on their tables, lawmakers appropriated to themselves billions of naira for vehicles, very regrettable.

“This is the government we thought would depart and move away from the previous ones. They can renovate the VP’s house but they do not need such staggering amount.

END.