‘Tinubu, Surprise Package for Nigerians’
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been described as “God’s gift for Nigeria and Nigerians, brought to do remedies to the wounds and fractures which have reversed the country for many decades.
Sulaiman Salawudeen, a former media practitioner, now university teacher, who said this in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti, capital of the state, allayed fears that Nigeria has fallen into another bad and insensitive hands with the advent of Tinubu, given the manner of removal of petroleum subsidy. He urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the new administration, even as it has begun to roll out programmes and palliatives for the benefit of citizens and residents.
The former journalist explained the immediate rise in prices which was attendant upon removal of petroleum subsidy by president Tinubu would soon yield a stability in the price and availability of the product, adding that this would be followed by price stability and availability in respect of other good and services as well.
Salawudeen spoke: “The removal of subsidy is clear pointer that President Bola Tinubu is fully in charge of governance and would not dance to anyone’s tune in policy formulation, design or implementation. No government in the past has been able to do it because of their fear of the so-called oil cabal. The president removed it because with him, no cabal is stronger than the collective good of entire Nigerians.
“By that same token, Tinubu has proven he would not consider any cabal or pander to whatever sectional interest in his governance of the country. As a former governor of the most economically successful state in Nigeria, he is aware of the basic direction towards which the country should be driven and how to bring genuine and lasting prosperity about”, Salawudeen said.
He added that President Tinubu has quite many other revolutionary programmes and palliatives in place for diverse segments and sections of Nigerians, noting the president has recently signed the Student Loan Bill into law, which means Nigerian students can access interest-free loans to pursue their education at any level.
The speed with which this piece of legislation came to existence itself is surprising according to to the university teacher, clarifying that it just passed second reading at the House of Representatives on May 25, 2023. “This is just about two weeks ago or thereabouts”, he noted.
As further step to be taken by federal government to lessen hardships for Nigerians, Salawudeen suggested government should set up price stability and commodities standardisation boards, noting this would help in jumpstarting the country’s economic prosperity.
Said he: “Tinubu must ensure that Federal Commodity Board must be set up to ensure that prices of products are regulated and to ensure standardisation, and that defaulters in this regard are brought to justice without fear or favour, let or hindrance.”
Asked if he would accept an appointment from the administration, the former journalist maintained: “Yes, if given an appointment, I will not reject it, but it is an error for anyone who feels he has supported the new president one way or another during campaigns to think the only way to be compensated is via federal appointment. This is wrong.
“I have written newspaper articles to support Tinubu and even openly campaigned for him before the elections, but quite many people did same or similar things, even far better than I did.
“It will therefore be wrong to insist that the only way to reward me must be by being appointed. Is it possible for Tinubu to empty all his supporters across media and politics into his cabinet? This is not possible,” Salawudeen said.
Concerning corruption, he explained that the president knows his onions and how best to tackle same, insisting it would be wrong for anyone to think federal government must follow certain steps in resolving the hydra-headed malaise.
He spoke: “Corruption has been critical part of what has brought the country to it’s knees in many areas of life, especially in the area of economy. No country grows with such level and quantum of corruption.
“But to imagine that the new president and his government is not prepared to confront that evil is a dangerous presumption. Tinubu knows quite well what it is and what his administration has to rein in the malaise. But it will be proper to exercise some patience while awaiting needed measures in the regard,” Salawudeen said.