“Matthew or Zacchaeus? Cleric Uses Tribute Speech to Reflect on Tinubu’s Tax Policies”

At the burial ceremony of the late Mrs. Adedoyin Abiola, cleric Rev. Jimi Adesua veered into a candid reflection on Nigeria’s state of affairs, drawing links between the nation’s socio-economic struggles and biblical characters.

Speaking during his tribute on Friday, Adesua said some persons had urged him to “speak the truth to power” at the event, noting that issues such as insecurity, corruption, and unemployment continue to weigh heavily on the country.

He asked: “The Nigeria we knew in the 1980s, is it not better than the Nigeria now?”

Adesua apologised for not being outspoken on political matters, saying he knew some would expect more fiery comments from him, but he nevertheless highlighted his personal observations about daily hardships.

He narrated how he recently noticed a fuel pump dispensing unusually fast, recalling speculations of an additional 5% tax on fuel in the coming year.

Yet, he acknowledged what he described as “positive steps” by government, including efforts to stabilise the naira and bring down food prices.

“The president himself said the price of food must come down, that they will crash the prices of food,” he told the audience, adding that though progress was visible, the depth of Nigeria’s problems meant it would take longer than one term to fix.

He also acknowledged efforts at fiscal realignment, noting with surprise that the dollar exchange rate had dropped.

“In Nigeria, we often believe that whatever goes up cannot come down, but now we see the dollar doing so,” he remarked.

He added that Nigerians had begun to see some infrastructure projects, particularly roads, but stressed that the power sector remained the country’s biggest stumbling block.

“We see infrastructure being built, we see roads, but what about NEPA? Without it nothing will work,” he said.

Adesua then quipped about the President’s taxation policies, likening his approach to biblical figures known for handling taxes, Matthew and Zacchaeus, and urged the congregation to decide “which of the two names suits him better.”

The cleric stressed that while government was “trying honestly,” the years of accumulated damage could not be erased overnight.