Leader of the Yoruba apex socio-political group, Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo, on Sunday likened President Muhammadu Buhari to the Roman Emperor Nero.
Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, whose name was originally Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, was the fifth emperor of Rome and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty line of emperors.
He was seen as one of the empire’s greatest criminals with a litany of evil acts including killing his stepbrother, his wife and his mother, as well persecuting Christians.
He also instigated the devastating Great Fire of Rome and was said to have achieved nothing but destroying the kingdom.
In a statement on Sunday signed by Afenifere’s spokesman, Jare Ajayi, Adebanjo accused Buhari of failing to live up to the electoral compromises of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He equally said that Buhari has been making several anti-people policies and actions that have worsened the woes of Nigerians.
The statement read, “This attitude on the part of President Buhari recalls to one’s mind the story of the Roman Emperor Nero who was busy on the fiddle when his empire was burning.
“Afenifere not only called on President Muhammadu Buhari to redirect its administration adroitly, we advise his government to embrace democratic ethos immediately by pursuing only policies that are in the best interests of the people.”
On the way forward, Adebanjo said that “the only panacea to the multi various problems bedeviling the country now, is for the federal government to shun nepotism, confront insecurity and restructure the country immediately.”
He added, “The administration of President Buhari has taken measures that were totally against the interests of the Nigerian populace.
“Contrary to the promises made during the electoral campaigns by the President and his party, the APC, the prices of commodities and services have skyrocketed while social services delivery and infrastructure kept receding.”