Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, has promised Nigerians that the benefits of President Bola Tinubu’s nerve-racking reforms will soon be realised.
The former Kano governor made the assurance while receiving a five-man delegation from the APC’s United States chapter at the party secretariat in Abuja.
His call for patience and support for the president comes amid the continuing hunger strike labelled #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, which entered Day Seven on Wednesday.
Nigeria has been plagued with hyperinflation and misery caused by the withdrawal of gasoline subsidies, the floating of the naira, and other economic measures adopted by the Tinubu administration.
Economic issues have made it difficult for the masses to keep up with the rising cost of food and living. But Ganduje argued that the people’s misery was a transitory teething problem, as is expected with any positive reform.
What they’re saying
He stated, “There is no doubt that even the so-called industrialised countries experience turbulence (protests) in one form or another. So it’s hardly unexpected that Nigeria is dealing with its own set of issues. It’s not the first time. You will recall that whenever there is a reform agenda, there must be hurdles along the way.
“As a result, people will suffer in one way or another. In the long run, everything will happen as planned. We are aware that our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, came in with the goal of implementing reforms. Our institutions are weak, and without strong institutions, it will be difficult to implement excellent policies.
“So, Mr. President, you are doing everything that is necessary. We shall emerge from this in due course because he is working tirelessly on the economy.We expect to see positive results soon.”.
“I welcome members of our great Party from America. Today, history is made. It’s a day we won’t forget. They travelled from one of the world’s farthest places, the United States, to demonstrate their dedication and love.
“From history, since the time of military politics, where we had political parties participating during the AD, AC, ACN, and down to the APC of today, some of you have participated in such affiliations that resulted in political party merger.
“So, there’s no doubt that you are dedicated partygoers, and we value your attendance.” Earlier in his remarks, Prof Adesegun Labinjo, leader of the APC-USA delegation of five, told reporters that they were in the country to show solidarity with the president and party leadership in the aftermath of the country’s hunger protest.
“We are pleased to pay you a courtesy call in support of the excellent manner you have led this party. We value you and like your leadership approach. We recognise your status as our leader.
“In support of you and our great President, we stated that because this country is experiencing difficulties at the moment, we are going there to demonstrate our support for our president, the national leadership of our party, and our beautiful country.
“Despite the discouragement, we persisted in arriving. In the face of all the turbulence that they predicted or are experiencing, we are here to support our president, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC national chairman, and our country,” he stated.
Bottom Line
Ganduje emphasizes the importance of patience and a long-term perspective when evaluating the impact of Tinubu’s economic reforms. While short-term hardships are acknowledged, the government believes these are necessary steps to achieve sustainable growth and development.
The withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira are significant policy shifts that have had immediate impacts on inflation and the cost of living. These reforms are intended to stabilize the economy, reduce fiscal deficits, and encourage investment, but they can also cause short-term disruptions.
