••Criticizes Tinubu govt for lack of articulate spokespersons capable of explaining their policies to the public..
•••charged lawyers to emulate the virtues of the late Gani Fawehinmi.
By Anastasia John E.
During the 21st Memorial Lecture of Chief Gani Fawehinmi in Lagos, the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, announced his decision to withhold economic advice from President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Speaking as the event’s chairman, Sanusi expressed his frustration with the government’s handling of economic issues, despite having initially offered his assistance.
Sanusi remarked, “I could provide insights into the predictable and avoidable economic challenges we’re facing, but I choose not to. I don’t want to help this government. They are my friends, but if they don’t act like friends, I won’t either.”
He further criticized the government’s lack of qualified spokespeople capable of explaining their policies to the public. “Let them explain to Nigerians why they pursue these policies. I began by helping, but now I refuse to,” he stated.
He said: ” They don’t even have people with pedigree that can come and explain to the people what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started by helping, but I am not going to help. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why they are pursuing the policies that they are pursuing.
” But I will say this one thing though. What we are going through today is at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible management. People were warning that if we continued the way that we were going, this is how we will end up but they refused to listen.
“Now, is everything being done correctly? No. When I am ready to talk about the economy, I will.”
Sanusi also highlighted the long-standing mismanagement that has contributed to the current economic situation, acknowledging that not everything is being handled correctly. He concluded by stating that he would speak on economic matters when the time is right.
In addition to his economic critique, Sanusi urged lawyers to follow the example of the late Gani Fawehinmi, praising Fawehinmi’s exemplary character and virtues, which he noted are increasingly scarce in the legal profession today.
