Adedayo Adeyeye, a former spokesperson of the senate, says Nigerians should be patient with President Bola Tinubu in his attempt to fix the country’s economy.
In a statement on Sunday, Adeyeye, who is the national chairman of the South-West Agenda For Asiwaju (SWAGA), said the country would not gain anything if painful decisions are not taken.
In his inauguration speech on May 29, the president announced that the subsidy on petrol is “gone”.
Since the president’s announcement of the subsidy removal, there have been two increments in the price of petrol which has caused hardship for citizens.
The former senator said the steps taken by Tinubu “should have been taken over 15 years ago”.
“The removal of oil subsidies and the new exchange rate regime of President Bola Tinubu for now, have led to inflationary pressure. This is causing some hardship on the part of the masses,” he said.
“As the saying goes, there is no gain without pain. Like the president has said that while trying to give birth, one must go through the pains of labour, however when the child is born, the safe birth will keep the mother happy.
“Her pain of a few hours would therefore lead to everlasting joy. Nigerians should see the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu from that perspective.
“If President Bola Tinubu has not taken those steps, it could have led to a complete crash of the Nigerian economy with its attendant social, economic and political implications.”
Adeyeye asked Nigerians not to judge Tinubu by results from a few days in office, adding that they would reap the benefits of the painful decisions taken now in the future.
“The pains we are currently going through, will soon go and by this time next year by the grace of God, Nigerians would begin to see the results of the steps that the president has taken,” he said.
“The president has just about 60 days in office. He still has over 46 more months to spend in his first term of 48 months, having spent just two.
“Nigerians should give President Tinubu some time, to allow his policies to mature and for us to begin to see the positive effects.
According to Adeyeye, the president has said he understands the pains of Nigeria, so “we should just exercise patience, ultimately Nigerians would give glory to God, along the line”.
