- Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with President Tinubu
- He said the administration inherited decades of “accumulated mismanagement
- Nigerians react, some believe the minister is only making excuses for the government, others think Nigerians should be patient
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has appealed to Nigerians to give President Tinubu more time to fix the issues battling the country.
Tunji-Ojo said the country is going through a surgical process and will have to go through some pain before healing. He also stated that the administration is still young to be judged.
The minister said this in an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television on Sunday July 28.
In his words: “Economy is not built overnight. It is easier for things to be destroyed than to be built. The fact remains, what you see today is an accumulated mismanagement over the last 100, 60, 40, 20 years. Because there are key fundamental decisions that must be taken. You can’t go through surgery at that point and not go through a level of pain.
“I personally believe Nigeria is going through a surgical process and for a government that is barely a year old and a cabinet that is barely 11 months old and all of a sudden, you are judging 11 months of President Tinubu’s cabinet and 12 or 13 months of President Tinubu’s presidency over a scenario of 60 something years.
“The key issue is that this is a president that inherited so much to do in such a short while. I am not the minister of Information, I am the minister of interior, I feel the pain. Are Nigerians going through? Yes, of course. But we have a president that I know, he is not just bold and audacious, but somebody who has a master plan.
“We are pleading for time. The removal of fuel subsidy and unification of exchange rates are basic things holding the development of this country. We are on the right track and it is just a matter of time,” he added.
Recall that some other prominent Nigerians and even clerics have also pleaded with Nigerians to stop the protest and give President Tinubu more time to address the issues of the country.
Nigerians react to Tunji-Ojo’s interview
Some Nigerians, who have set their hearts on the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, have expressed their opinion on the minister’s words during the interview.
Many believe politicians always have an excuse for why they are performing below expectations and others believe the minister spoke the truth and also urged Nigerians to be patient with the government.
Here are some of the comments.
@somadina_arthur posted: “Surgical process yet dem use 21 billion renovate house.”
@ako_na_uche_x posted: “What we are seeing today has nothing to do with the last 60-100 years. We were on the right path before Yorubas decided to sabotage Goodluck Jonathan. You people think we’ve forgotten.”
@Bethel_Anun posted: “From hitting the ground running to asking for more time, after 4years they will ask for another 4years with claims that since Buhari did not do it in 4years they too would need 4years. Meanwhile it’s they all part of the same APC that promised Nigerians CHANGE since 2015.”
@Balatic posted: “The same thing they said for 8yrs of Buhari. Now they can’t say 16yrs of PDP again, they’re now saying 100 years of Nigeria. God will punish APC & their supporters. Cr1m1nals. We need to ask that man in Canada to name that minister that wanted to buy a 4th house in one year.”
@osquare78 posted: “Yes, we know. That is why we need 50 years to build the economy. Since 1999, every government that comes said the exact same thing. Nigerians should be patient. Even you sitting there defending the government today once denied Nigeria and called the leaders all sorts of names. Now that you’ve joined the dinning table, you realise economy is not built overnight.”
@DrTambari posted: “He just wants to please Tinubu. Nothing more. It's a pity that this government can not make life better for Nigerians.”
@iam_enfash posted: “Nonsense, the subsidy was removed, and barely a month later, they started repaying more… The unification of the naira is also questionable. The CBN started selling dollars at a reduced price, so what are the differences?”
@GoziconC posted: “Thank you, Hon. Minister. Nigerians must exercise some patience and let President Tinubu do his job.”
@otuo_ogbajie posted: “Oratory won’t help you. The sins of carelessness are too many. Vice president’s house, presidential Jet, Chagoury and coastal road, Yacht, etc and economic policy flip flops.”
@Arabianmoney147 posted: “But private jet is bought overnight, fuel subsidy was removed overnight , ndi ara.”
Lagos fixes Oro festival on same day with proposed nationwide protest
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that traditional worshippers are set to hold the Oro Festival across Lagos State from August 1 to August 15, which many believe will limit the effectiveness of the upcoming nationwide protest set for August 1.
On Wednesday, July 24, residents and visitors were informed of the Oro festival date via social media notice.