Eminent lawyer and politician, Oba Mekunu Owolabi Salis, has called on the Tinubu administration to urgently implement practical measures to alleviate the severe hardships faced by the masses, especially the poorest in society.
He stated, “While the economic crisis we face today is largely a result of the mismanagement by previous governments, it is still the responsibility of the current president to chart a course that will lift the impoverished from the socio-economic paralysis they find themselves in.”
He emphasised the need for swift action, noting, “Mr. President, it is imperative to act quickly, as human lives are at stake. Government must bridge the gap between the rich and the poor to ensure everyone has access to basic needs. The wealthy can afford food and healthcare, but the poor cannot—and it is the duty of governance to assist them.”
Salis, who contested for the governorship of Lagos in 2019 under the Alliance for Democracy, warned of the consequences of neglecting the poor. “As a lawyer, and a student of history and world politics, I refrain from predicting the inevitable revolutions we have seen in similar situations, because I am an advocate for peace.
“As a religious leader, apart from being a politician,I can confirm with every authority at my disposal that there are grave spiritual consequences, if anyone is allowed to die in intense pains and agony as a result of hunger and starvation and inability to afford or access good health facilities and medication for effective cure of ailments. “Ouote me! whoever subjects a soul to pains and sufferings directly or indirectly, consciously or unconsciously, and the carrier of the soul dies, such a person’s soul may not be reposed.This is in alignment with the spiritual law of justice’’.
Drawing from history, he quoted George Washington’s inaugural address from April 30, 1789, stating, “‘The propitious smiles of heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and rights which heaven itself has ordained.’ Just as this applies to nations, so does it apply to individuals.”
Salis added, “The right to life and well-being is fundamental. Denying people their lives—whether through a lack of food or access to basic medical care—is a grave injustice. A system that allows the poor to be treated like sub-human beings is the height of inhumanity.”
He also highlighted how both capitalism and socialism, despite their ideological differences, converge on the need to protect the economically vulnerable. “Both systems acknowledge the importance of shielding the poor from the harsh realities of the market. This is governance with a human face, and it is what we ask of our esteemed leader, not just through cosmetic measures, but with genuine, effective action.”
Salis further criticized the mismanagement of public funds, saying, “We have seen in the past how money intended for the poor, held in the care of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, has ended up in private pockets. In Nigeria, the basic needs that inflict the most suffering are food and healthcare. It is the duty of both the president and the governors to ensure that every Nigerian has access to these essentials.”
He warned again of the spiritual consequences of neglecting the poor, stating, “Anyone who causes innocent people to suffer, and those people die as a result, will face spiritual consequences. The suffering we see today, with children dropping out of school, people eating animal feed for survival, and the rise of desperate actions like ritual killings, is deeply alarming.”
He concluded by contrasting the lives of the rich and powerful with the suffering of the poor. “While the elite live in comfort and send their children to expensive schools abroad, the masses continue to suffer and die slowly. Should we not be touched by the grave spiritual implications of this imbalance?”
and then