Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike, have urged the public to demonstrate patience and make sacrifices, emphasizing that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies are crucial for building a stronger and more prosperous economy.
The duo stated that Nigeria has endured years of economic decay, making it unrealistic to expect immediate miraculous results from the solid foundational policies initiated by President Tinubu.
The Senate President and the former Governor of Rivers State made these remarks over the weekend at a Thanksgiving service organized in Koroma Tai LGA by Senator Barry Mpigi, who represents the Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, to express gratitude to God for his electoral victory.
Akpabio, many senators, members of the House of Representatives, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, former ministers, a delegation from Akwa Ibom led by Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, some Rivers State Cabinet members, members of the Rivers House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were among the dignitaries at the event.
Wike said that though people complained that the decisions of President Tinubu were hard, they remained the only way to take the country to its destination.
He argued that decisions to turn around and address years of rot were not miracles expected to materialise within six months.
Wike insisted that President Tinubu required the support of all stakeholders in his efforts to address the inherited crisis in the country.
He said: “I believe that God, in his infinite mercy, will give us the strength to work and continue to support Mr. President. The decision of Mr. President is hard, but if we are patient, at the end of the day, we will get to where we want to go.
“You want him to bring a policy to change something that had spoiled many years ago within six months. Even if it is a miracle, it is difficult. What is required is to give him support.
“I seriously believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda. We urge you to believe in the Renewed Hope agenda. We are going to do everything to continue to support Mr. President.”.
The minister said most people in the country were always quick to forget past incidents and recalled that governors and others, who won their re-elections at the Supreme Court recently heaped praise on Tinubu for not interfering in their cases.
He wondered why, immediately after their praises, they turned around to blame Mr. President for hardship.
He said, “I watched after the court verdicts of the election, everybody that came out would say I thank Mr. President for not interfering. But immediately after that expired, people were saying a different thing.
“I watched every governor, and after they thanked God, the next person was Mr. President. But just after two weeks, everything evaporated. Now it is, Mr. ‘President we are dying’.
He appealed to the people not to lose hope adding that the administration of the FCT through the support of President Tinubu was a sign of better days ahead.
He said: “But don’t lose hope. Look at what we are doing in Abuja today, it means that Mr. President will do better. It is a sign of good things to come. People are saying Wike is doing well but it is because the President is in support of it. The President is committed to seeing that Nigerians have positive impacts in their lives”
Wike said about 85 per cent of persons, who secured the victories at the past elections were still intact in his team saying with such a force, he could no longer wait for the next general election in 2027.
He said nobody in his team in Rivers was afraid of intimidation noting that Rivers was uniquely united across party lines.
He commended the Senate President for giving an important position of Senate Committee Chairmanship on Works to Senator Mpigi without considering that he belongs to a minority party.
Wike further praised Akpabio for uniting the National Assembly after the election saying for the first time the two chambers were in a robust relationship with the President.
He said: “The most important thing is that all of us who made it happen in 2023 about 85 percent are still with us. All the council chairmen are here. Nobody is afraid of intimidation and nobody will be intimidated.
“It is good to appreciate. I know what Barry has passed through politically. I thank God he has come to appreciate God. I thank the Senate President and the Senate for considering us worthy to head one of the most important committees; Committee Chairman on Works.
“It has never happened for a minority party to be given such a position. You can go to sleep with your two eyes closed because Barry will not disappoint you. We have always worked together.
“With the forces we have I don’t know of anybody who will challenge us. It is like tomorrow is 2027. For me is very far. I cannot wait. The two leaders of the PDP and APC are here.
“Which state can boast of this kind of unity? It is only in Rivers that you can find this unity. People don’t like it. So they do everything possible to make sure we are divided. But since we know, we have refused to be divided. This is the only state where the ruling party will win for Presidency, the opposition will take the National Assembly in an election that happened at the same time and the same day.
“This is what we call uncommon. This is the first time I see no clear cut of party and that is how it is supposed to be. Party is a vehicle that conveys you to your destination. When you get to where you are going you come down and talk about governance.”