Buhari Fought Poverty Better Than Tinubu, Says Arise News Editor

Sumner Sambo, Director of News and Politics Editor at Arise News, has argued that former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was more effective than President Bola Tinubu’s government in combating poverty.

Sambo made the remarks on Monday during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show.

Sambo credited Buhari’s government with rolling out more poverty alleviation programs between 2015 and 2023compared to Tinubu’s current approach.

“You will agree with me that that government actually seemed to have performed better in terms of rolling out poverty reduction programs than the Bola Tinubu administration when it comes to tackling poverty,” he said.

He noted that Buhari’s strategies, supported by political figures like Nasir El-Rufai, gave poverty alleviation a stronger focus than what is currently being observed.

Sambo argued that poverty reduction under Tinubu has been weakened since the suspension of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Betta Edu.

“Since the sack of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu, whom I think was actually doing well for the Bola Tinubu administration, the appointments that have gone to the poverty alleviation and humanitarian ministry under Tinubu have been very poor. We don’t see so much focus on reduction of poverty,” he added.

The journalist urged the Tinubu administration to:

• Place greater focus on poverty reduction measures

• Treat constructive criticism as an opportunity to improve governance

• Ensure humanitarian and poverty alleviation ministries are led by capable officials