Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, has stated that the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was a good reform that was wrongly done, adding that it would be a herculean task to defend the action.

Ezekwesili, who spoke at the Panel Discussion at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Enugu State on Monday, reacted to the Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo’s suggestion that Nigeria should focus on research and development to prosper.

Ojo had while speaking in a keynote address, pointed out that China spends so much on research and development whereas Nigeria spends so much on the provision of infrastructure, noting that until this is done, economic growth and prosperity would continue to elude the country.

“It is a tough job to have to defend the APC government. You can do the right policies but if you do it the wrong way, there will be a problem,” Ezekwesili said. She cited the removal of fuel subsidy as an example of a well-intentioned policy that was wrongly implemented, leading to spiral inflation.

“The reform was not prepared for. It was a good reform done the wrong way. It is bad because inflation is punishing the populace. You really have to prepare for reform,” Ezekwesili said, adding that the declaration “Subsidy is gone” by the President has plunged many Nigerians into penury.

“Inflation hits the poor so hard and they have nowhere to run to. It was a good reform done wrongly,” she maintained.

Ezekwesili urged lawyers and the judiciary not to reward prebendalism and not to pander to the wishes of the political class that care less about the poor masses.

“The idea that politics is the pathway to becoming wealthy is an anomaly. Any profession that is rewarding this kind of pre-examined behavior cannot be a profession that cares about tomorrow.

“133 million Nigerians are in a state of poverty. The lawyers are determining the rule of law in Nigeria. There should be an evaluation of the political class. This country lies prostrate for the poor. I am praying for the legal profession. Any profession that is rewarding prebendalism is not a profession,” she lamented.

Another panelist, George Etomi, expressed concern about the judiciary’s independence, saying “Our judiciary was more independent under the military. I don’t know what the new law is. They are abusing democracy today. We must protect the judiciary,” Ezekwesili said.

In a panel discussion, Nigerians expressed their dissatisfaction with President Tinubu’s policies, passing a vote of no confidence in him. When asked if the country was on the right track with the government policies, the overwhelming response was “no”.

Similarly, when asked if their hope had been renewed under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the answer was again a resounding “no”.