Radio listeners who called into FAD FM Calabar have expressed outrage over remarks made by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Barrister Alphonsus Eba, during a live radio interview.
During the early morning programme, which focused on defections to the APC and the ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria, Eba’s comments were widely seen as dismissive and out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary citizens.
The interview was monitored by DAILY POST in Calabar.
Responding to a question about the level of hyperinflation, hunger and hardship experienced by Nigerians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Eba denied that the country was experiencing difficult times.
Eba insisted that Nigerians were not struggling to afford food or fuel. According to him, he had not seen anyone scavenging from refuse bins.
He further defended the removal of fuel subsidy by Tinubu, arguing that it was a necessary step that ultimately prevented the collapse of the national economy.
When asked whether the APC was satisfied with the fact that fuel prices had risen from around N200 to nearly N1000 since Tinubu took office, Eba urged Nigerians to commend the President for removing the subsidy rather than criticize him, insisting that the government was working to restore economic stability and prosperity.
Callers who responded on-air described Eba as “arrogant” and “insensitive”.
Many expressed anger at his tone and remarks, accusing him of being disconnected from the struggles of everyday Nigerians.
One caller, Timothy Abang, said, “Eba’s responses and general attitude reveal the height of insensitivity from our political leaders. For him to claim Nigerians are not experiencing hardship shows he is more interested in appeasing those in power than addressing the truth.”
Listeners also criticized Eba’s conduct during the interview, accusing him of being confrontational and disrespectful to the programme hosts.
They noted that he frequently interrupted the moderators and insisted on controlling the narrative while listing the so-called achievements of President Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu.
Commenting on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), Eba boasted that his background as a large-scale farmer made him a suitable choice.
He maintained that his experience prompted the appointment although he is still serving as state chairman of APC.
