Former Osun State Governor and past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has cautioned President Bola Tinubu that worsening economic conditions in Nigeria could trigger a revolt among citizens.
Speaking at a national dialogue on Home-Grown Parliamentary Systems in Abuja on November 12, Aregbesola highlighted the economic and social pressures facing Nigerians.
“We have seen worsening economic—even political and spiritual—conditions of Nigerians. A smaller percentage of Nigerians are now prosperous—not that there is no prosperity in Nigeria, but it is decreasing daily. This tells us we are in deep trouble,” Aregbesola stated.
Reflecting on past times when wealth was more evenly distributed, Aregbesola suggested that the current concentration of prosperity in the hands of a few is contributing to national discontent.
He warned that a lack of fair opportunity and rights would eventually lead to resistance, saying, “If other things fail, people can revolt.”
Aregbesola also criticized Nigeria’s presidential system, advocating for a parliamentary government that, he believes, would allow for a more collective approach to governance.
“If we go on believing that one person…has the capacity to govern over 220 million Nigerians alone, without checks, we are kidding ourselves,” he asserted.
He argued that a parliamentary system better suits Nigeria, fostering shared governance and accountability.
