The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, over comments on President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects, urging him to focus on the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
HURIWA said Oyedele should concentrate on his economic responsibilities rather than make statements projecting Tinubu’s chances of securing a second term in the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, the association said Nigerians needed practical answers to rising living costs, high petrol prices and declining purchasing power instead of assurances about the expectations of international investors regarding the President’s political future.
The group faulted Oyedele’s suggestion that financial markets and the international community were already anticipating a second term for Tinubu, describing the position as his personal assessment rather than a definitive judgment on the country’s political future.
Onwubiko maintained that the decision on who becomes Nigeria’s next president rests with Nigerians, not foreign investors, international financial institutions or influential business interests.
HURIWA also questioned the appropriateness of a senior economic official using an international economic gathering to discuss the President’s re-election prospects when many citizens were struggling with the cost of basic necessities.
The association challenged the minister to explain how the Federal Government intended to ease the financial pressure on workers whose earnings had been eroded by the rising costs of food, transportation, electricity and other essential services.
It further called for answers on the government’s plans to revive productive sectors, create jobs and restore the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians.
On public finance, HURIWA expressed concern over what it described as the government’s growing reliance on borrowing, arguing that reports of increased revenue collections should prompt greater scrutiny of spending priorities and fiscal discipline.
The group said improved revenue figures should also raise questions about why borrowing remained a recurring feature of public finance.
HURIWA’s comments followed Oyedele’s remarks on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, where he discussed how financial markets viewed Nigeria’s opposition politicians and the prospect of a return to fuel subsidy.
The association urged the minister to prioritise economic recovery and provide concrete explanations of how government policies would translate into relief for households and businesses facing mounting financial pressure.
