Nigerian elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has declined to assess the performance of President Bola Tinubu's administration after just one year in office. According to Clark, this is because the new government inherited a daunting legacy of challenges from its predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In an exclusive interview with Saturday Sun, Clark described Buhari's administration as the worst in Nigeria's history. "I told them when they were celebrating June 12 that there was nothing to celebrate," he said. "What did Buhari's government produce? Nothing but poverty, insecurity, and stagnation."
Clark believes that President Tinubu's administration is still grappling with the consequences of Buhari's policies and programmes. "He met a government that was already on its knees," he said. "It's like trying to correct a sinking ship. You need to know where you're going before you start steering."
Clark praised Tinubu's bold decision to remove fuel subsidy, but warned that he should have anticipated the consequences of such a move. "As an administrator, you need to think ahead," Clark said. "You can't just wake up one morning and say I'm removing fuel subsidy without thinking about the impact on people's lives."
According to the sun Nigeria, Clark suggested that Tinubu should have done his homework before making the announcement, preparing countermeasures to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal. "If he had done his homework, he would have known that removing subsidy would lead to increased prices and hardship for the people," Clark said.
Instead, Clark believes that Tinubu should focus on correcting the mistakes of his predecessor and creating a more sustainable future for Nigeria. "I'm not going to assess him yet," Clark said. "He has a lot on his plate right now, and I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Overall, Clark's comments reflect his long-standing criticism of Buhari's administration and his skepticism about the new government's ability to deliver real change. However, they also suggest that he is willing to give Tinubu a chance to correct past mistakes and build a better future for Nigeria.