Human rights lawyer, Malcolm Omirhobo, has criticised President Bola Tinubu, describing him as a hypocrite following his recent presidential media chat where he advised Nigerians to manage their electricity consumption.
During the chat, Tinubu had suggested that Nigerians reduce their electricity bills by switching off lights when not in use.
He said, “It’s not negative to learn to manage. You learn to control your electricity bill, switch off the light, let’s learn to manage.”
However, Omirhobo questioned the President’s credibility in offering such advice amidst rising costs of living and governance expenses.
His remarks come in the wake of escalating energy costs. Since Tinubu’s inauguration in May 2023, petrol prices have quadrupled from less than ₦200 per litre to over ₦1,100 in many regions, following the removal of subsidies.
Additionally, electricity tariffs have surged. On April 3, 2024, the electricity regulator increased the Band A tariff to ₦225 per kilowatt-hour from ₦66, prompting widespread public backlash.
Omirhobo urged the government to prioritise reducing governance costs and providing practical solutions to Nigeria’s energy crisis.
Omirhobo in a post on Twitter wrote, “It is hypocritical for Tinubu to advise Nigerians to learn to manage by learning to control their electricity bill by switching off their light when he has refused to learn how to cut down the cost of governance.”