Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has openly criticized the administration of President Bola Tinubu, warning that growing economic hardship and hunger across Nigeria could cost the government public support in future elections.
Speaking in Yoruba during a public function attended by Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker Adeoye Aribasoye and lawmaker Tope Longe, Fayemi painted a grim picture of rising poverty, collapsing infrastructure, and federal neglect of key development projects.
“Except we are deceiving ourselves, Nigerians are not happy with the Federal Government because of hunger and lack of money,” Fayemi said.
He expressed frustration over the deplorable state of federal roads in Ekiti, particularly the Efon Alaaye–Erio route and the Omuo Ekiti–Ilasa–Ayedun Ekiti axis, describing the daily suffering of commuters due to poor road conditions.
Fayemi also accused the Federal Government of refusing to refund N18–20 billion spent by his administration on the Ado-Iyin Road project, money he said could have been reinvested in other vital infrastructure.
“The Federal Government said they didn’t send us to do the road, so no refund was made,” he noted. “If they had refunded the money, wouldn’t the governor have used it to do phase two of the road?”
While acknowledging the necessity of reforms like the fuel subsidy removal, Fayemi criticized their hasty implementation without adequate cushioning measures for ordinary Nigerians battling soaring inflation and living costs.
He also raised concerns about delays in fund releases to federal ministries and agencies, warning that good intentions alone are not enough for meaningful governance.
Fayemi’s remarks add to the growing chorus of public figures urging the Tinubu administration to reassess its economic policies and address the worsening conditions affecting millions of Nigerians.
