Mr. Douye Diri, the governor of Bayelsa State, has expressed sadness over the nation’s present economic suffering which is a result of inflation spurred on through government policies.
During Tuesday’s nationwide demonstration against the high cost of living, the governor addressed state members of the Nigeria Labour Congress at the Government House gate in Yenagoa and declared he was not immune to the economic crisis.
The governor said, “We are all aware, and we are all in this country. Whether you are rich or poor, whether you are a worker or you are not a worker, the current hardship has no boundaries.
“And it is only a fool that will say, I’m not affected’. Workers are affected; my dear countrymen, even me as governor, I’m affected.
“Do you know how I’m affected? Now, in all of our projects that we have done before, every body is putting in a paper for variation. Do you know how I’m affected? The food that I used to eat at one naira, they are now putting variation for N10.
“Do you know how I’m affected? Now, some of you who used to come and dine with me in the morning, I can no longer invite you to come and dine with me again. All of us are affected. We are all affected.”
However, Diri informed the protesting workers that he was certain President Bola Tinubu did not purposely cause people’s suffering and poverty since sometimes difficult choices result in positive outcomes.
Moreover, he said that the Federal Government’s floating naira policy was the main reason behind the nation’s skyrocketing costs for goods and services, noting that the state governments had no involvement in the making of the policy.
Diri said, “For anything to be good, there are also some bad situations. I believe that the President of this country wouldn’t deliberately want to punish us as citizens of this country. I do believe so. Certain policies that have come out; I’m sure they (Federal Government) are also weighing the options.
“The issue about inflation mostly has to do with our currency, the policy of floating our currency. And I’m sure that as they weigh the options; because currency as you know is purely for the Federal Government; state governments cannot; we can only advise. And having received your protest letter, we can only continue to advise.
“But the decisions are taken by the Federal Government about currency. And as you all know, currency is on the Exclusive List (in the Constitution). The whole of this thing rallies around our currency. Our currency has been floated.
“I’m sure that, as I said, if it is affecting me then it certainly is affecting Mr President. And Mr President, who is the head and leader of this country, can no longer sleep. I’m sure he’s going to do something, seeing workers protesting across the country.”
