Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark declined to assess President Bola Tinubu’s administration after just one year in office, citing the significant challenges inherited from the previous administration.
Clark, aged 97, characterized the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari as the most detrimental in Nigeria’s history. Speaking in Abuja, the leader of the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) expressed his viewpoint.
When asked about his assessment of Tinubu’s tenure so far, Clark declined to comment, citing that one year in office was too short a period. He remarked on the challenges Tinubu inherited from what he described as the poor governance of the previous administration: “He inherited the worst government in Nigeria. I advised him during the June 12 celebrations that there was nothing worth celebrating. What achievements did Buhari’s government have to show? Continuing with his policies as APC will undoubtedly present challenges.”
Clark believed that correcting the numerous errors and mismanagement of Buhari’s administration would not be difficult for Tinubu. Regarding Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies, Clark described it as a bold move, noting that former President Goodluck Jonathan had attempted a similar action but had to backtrack due to public backlash.
However, Clark emphasized that Tinubu should have anticipated the repercussions of subsidy removal and prepared adequate countermeasures beforehand: “As an experienced administrator and former governor, Tinubu should have foreseen that every action has consequences. He should have asked himself what would happen if he removed oil subsidies and whether it would affect people’s standards of living. With proper preparation, such as acquiring buses and other essentials, immediate steps could have been taken to mitigate any adverse effects following the announcement.”
In conclusion, Clark refrained from passing judgment on Tinubu’s performance, acknowledging the ongoing initiatives under his administration.
