Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, has declined to publicly evaluate President Bola Tinubu’s administration, explaining that his current position as a traditional ruler and elder statesman prevents him from doing so.
Falae, who now serves as the Ilu-Abo of Akure North in Ondo State and recently became Chairman of the National Executive Committee of Afenifere, shared his views in an interview recently. He emphasized that he maintains private channels for offering feedback to the president and has already met with him since he assumed office.
“I won’t assess Tinubu’s government publicly. I now function as a traditional ruler, not a politician. If I have any views, I will communicate them through the appropriate channels, which remain open to me,” he said.
Though he refrained from offering direct praise or criticism, Falae acknowledged the necessity of the current administration’s economic reforms. He described the decisions as bold, despite the difficult impact on Nigerians.
“Previous governments avoided these reforms due to their potential consequences. Tinubu showed courage by implementing them. Some preparatory steps could have softened the blow, but overall, the reforms were vital,” he noted.
He criticized Nigeria’s previously fragmented exchange rate system, calling it unsustainable and unfair. “We had six exchange rates—one for investors, another for those traveling abroad, another for tuition. That system created idle multi-millionaires who profited from arbitrage,” Falae explained.
On the removal of fuel subsidies, he supported the move, arguing that government had no business fixing fuel prices. “Everyone eats food, but not everyone uses petrol daily—yet the government doesn’t regulate food prices. Deregulating the oil industry was long overdue. The old system enriched certain cabals at the public’s expense,” he added.
When asked about claims of lopsided appointments in Tinubu’s cabinet, Falae declined to comment, reaffirming his neutral role as an elder and traditional leader. “If I have advice for the president or a governor, I’ll simply call them,” he said.
Falae also refused to weigh in on emerging political coalitions opposing the president, maintaining his non-partisan position.
