Tafawa-Balewa: Tinubu Took Over a Nation on the Brink of Collapse
By Adeyemi Adeleye
Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, a former PDP presidential candidate, has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Bola Tinubu, noting that he inherited a country teetering on the edge of financial collapse.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, Tafawa-Balewa explained the difficulty of revitalizing a nation in such dire straits. He acknowledged the challenges ahead but stressed that significant efforts are needed to steer the country towards recovery.
Tafawa-Balewa advised President Tinubu to reduce the cost of governance to allocate more resources for development. He also recommended enhancing the cabinet with technocrats capable of implementing Tinubu’s development plans effectively.
“The President needs to adapt to current realities by appointing individuals who are well-versed in new technologies to manage the various ministries. The number of ministries, currently around 48, should be streamlined to cut down operational costs,” he stated.
Additionally, Tafawa-Balewa emphasized the importance of improving security to combat kidnappings, insurgency, and other threats. He argued that enhanced security is crucial for increasing food production, as it would allow farmers to work safely. He also highlighted the need for better food preservation and distribution technologies, suggesting the use of gamma radiation facilities for this purpose, although he noted that these recommendations have not yet been adopted.
