Elder statesman, Prof Usman Yusuf, has said that the Nigeria’s economy is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with high inflation, high debt burden and costs of serving it, dwindling foreign reserve, high cost of governance, insecurity, persistent corruption among others.

The former chief executive of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and a Professor of Haematology oncology and bone marrow transplantation, called on the government to as a matter of urgency address the drivers of insecurity first, if it ever intended to tackle the security challenges in

the country.

He said these arevery challenging times for Nigeria with a nose-diving economy, rising inflation, biting increase in the cost of living, insecurity all across the land and a president whose legitimacy is in question.

He added thatNigeria is not sharply divided along ethnic lines but the nation is getting increasingly divided along socio-economic lines, adding that the sufferings inflicted on citizens in the last five months by President Tinubu’s government are equally affecting all citizens regardless of their ethnicity,faiths or geographical origins.

According to him, “there will never be security in any society without addressing the drivers of insecurity; corruption, bad governance, poverty, hunger, rise in the cost of living, illiteracy, drugs abuse, youth unemployment, proliferation of arms. This and previous governments have been in denial about the presence of these drivers.

“No military in the world can bomb away poverty, illiteracy, hunger or grievances. I have said it again and again that all state governors bear huge responsibility for the current state of insecurity in the country because they control its drivers. They have worsened poverty by emasculating local

governments by holding onto their funds.

“The state and federal governments must as a matter of urgency address these drivers of insecurity first. Also, the governors should work collaboratively and consult all local stakeholders because all problems are local and the solutions must be found locally,” he said.

Speaking on allegations of nepotism against President Tinubu by some sections of the north and accusations that all the juicy appointments have gone to the Yoruba in the South-West, he said “Yoruba and Fulani are just two of hundreds of ethnic groups in Nigeria, why are you talking about them only? I opposed APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket from the outset because I said that our politics must reflect our diversity. President Tinubu’s ongoing appointments have not reflected our diversity; they have been shamelessly too

top heavy in favour of his ethnic group that is only one out of the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“This is not only insensitive but reckless and dangerous especially coming from a president who lost his home state to the opposition and got only 10 per

cent of the eligible voters in a still contested election. Leadership requires wisdom and humility; I see neither in President Tinubu’s rash of appointments. He is either poorly advised or he is showing Nigerians who he truly is. (Story adapted fromSun)