Afenifere: Nigerians may forgive Buhari if he alleviates their suffering before May 29

Tamarauemi Ebimini

Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere has said Nigerians may be inclined to forgive President Muhammadu Buhari if he makes changes to alleviate suffering in the country before he hands over on May 29.

Buhari, last Friday, asked Nigerians to forgive him for any way he has hurt them.

Afenifere, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said it would have been better if the president had listened to pleas over the years regarding ‘the unfriendly, if not retrogressive, steps his administration was taking’.

The statement reads: “The maxim has it that ‘to err is human, to forgive is divine.’ Without deceiving ourselves, the President Muhammadu Buhari led government certainly ‘hurt’ a lot of people (to use his own word). Some of them are even no longer alive; some who are alive have wounds that can hardly ever heal; both physical and psycho-social wounds. Because the almighty created many humans to have large hearts, many whom the President had hurt may forgive him.

“That is for those who are alive. But then, what about thousands who have died due to avoidable acts traceable to the government?”

The group stressed that many people might forgive Buhari if, within the remaining 34 days he has left in office, he could effect ‘dramatic changes’ in policies making life difficult for Nigerians.

Afenifere advised Buhari to take decisive actions that will permanently halt insecurity in the country, and ensure immediate payment of the eight month salary of lecturers. It added that efforts should be made to ensure that those in IDPs camps are resettled in their ancestral homes, and that ‘the stranglehold on the economy’, especially through unfriendly fiscal policies, be relaxed so that economic activities can quickly bounce back.”