He also criticised Mr Tinubu and his administration over their continued borrowing, insisting that the President must account for the funds.
Popular Anambra-based cleric, Chukwuemeka “Odumeje” Ohanaemere, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alleging that those praising the current government were doing so because they had been “bribed.”
Odumeje also urged Nigerians to use the 2027 general election to hold leaders accountable, insisting that public office holders are merely custodians of the country’s resources and must govern in the people’s interest.
He said: “Anyone you see singing praises for the current government is doing so because that person has been bribed if you are coming into government, whether you forced your way in or the people elected you.
“You are there to manage our resources, not your personal business or your family’s business. These are resources that belong to every Nigerian citizen. And yet you tell them they have been hungry.”
Furthermore, Odumeje said Nigerians will determine the country’s future with their votes in the 2027 general elections.
He also criticised politicians representing their constituencies, accusing them of defending Mr Tinubu’s remark that “there’s hunger before I was born.”
According to him, the politicians lacked conscience.
He said: “In 2027, we shall decide if it’s you, governor or senator, whose family owns Nigeria, or whether all of us own Nigeria. We are no longer boys; we are fathers. Your President Tinubu confessed, before answering the question, that even before he was born, Nigeria had been living with hunger. To all the people supporting President Tinubu, thank God you are now seeing how you are selling our children’s future, all because of money.
“We know all of you, as a governor, as a senator. I know why you are there supporting this man: it is because of yourself, your family, and what you can gather and acquire. After your term, if you win again, you will continue. If you do not win again, you will carry the money you have already acquired for yourself and your children, and travel to another country, leaving behind the very people you called ‘Nigerians.’ That is one thing a president has nothing to offer his own country.”
Furthermore, Odumeje said the political office holders exist to serve the people who elected them, not their personal or family interests.
He added that he values politicians who speak honestly rather than shift blame to the opposition or former officeholders.
“‘We are leaders; we are no longer boys; we are fathers. If you have nothing to offer the citizens of this country, then let us divide this thing we call a country. There are people whose resources you are managing.
“The resources the president of Nigeria manages do not belong to him; they belong to you and me. You are not leading animals; you are leading people,” said Odumeje.
The cleric also said leaders of groups or nations must know how to communicate effectively.
He criticised Mr Tinubu and his administration over their continued borrowing, insisting that the President must account for the funds.
“A person who is leading the people must know how to talk to the people. The money you borrow, you borrow in all our names. So you must account for it, because that debt falls on our heads, and on the future of all our children.”
