The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for saying that people, especially those from the South West, could have been trekking from Lagos to Ibadan but for the intervention of his administration, especially on rail and road projects.

The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, said in a statement on Thursday that it was a height of an unpardonable exaggeration to say that without the train the people in the South West would have been trekking.

Afenifere said: “In any case, assuming without conceding that the rail transport is so significant in the life of the people as painted by Mr President, what about several other routes in the South West that have no rail system,”

‘So, why has the government not provided rail transport in all these areas so that people would not have to trek? And on the road that the president lamented its absence, whose responsibility is it to provide the road; is it not the government?” it queried.

Speaking on Buhari’s statement at the 6th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Doha, Qatar, where Buhari who was represented by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, said that his administration was now “embarking on different initiatives, projects, and policies to enhance the performance of the oil and gas sector.” Afenifere queried the statement saying ‘“Why is the administration just embarking on these initiatives when it has just about 14 months left in office?

Afenifere said: “If the government truly believes in the pivotal roles oil and gas play in the lives and economy of the people, why should the prices of these commodities be all-time high now?

“Why are the refineries not working? Why not license modular refinery operators so that the commodities can be widely available? The reality on ground forces one to doubt the sincerity of the administration in its policies, vision and claims.”

“Why is the administration just embarking on these initiatives when it has just about 14 months left in office?

“If the government truly believes in the pivotal roles oil and gas play in the lives and economy of the people, why should the prices of these commodities be all-time high now?

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“How can we describe Nigeria as ‘prosperous when 74 per cent of its earnings go into debt servicing, electricity supply is less than six hours in a day, new businesses are not springing up and cost of living is rising daily?”

“With the shrinking economy, comatose agricultural practices (due largely to terrorists’ activities and inchoate policies of government), low morale among security agencies and chaotic democratic dispensation in the land, the rosy picture being painted by Mr. President is very much invisible and is hard to believe.”