Barely 72 hours to the nationwide mass protest against economic hardship in the country, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the last election in Kogi, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka has urged citizens to exercise restraint and patience to allow President Bola Tinubu to address the nation’s multifaceted challenges rather than embarking on unproductive mass protest.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Ajaka stated that President Tinubu with his wealth of experience was already on track in the bid to fix the nation to make it work again and as such he should not be distracted but rather should be encouraged to deliver his mandate to the nation.
He however tasked President Tinubu to immediately rejig his cabinet to inject fresh blood into the administration for him to faithfully implement his laudable policies to the nation.
Ajaka also urged the President to caution some of his aides against making unguarded utterances on sensitive issues, saying that some of them should be immediately relieved of their Offices for the President to connect with the citizens.
The statement titled, “My Stand on the Planned Nationwide Protest” reads. ” Today, I would like to lend my voice regarding the planned nationwide protest by Nigerian youths in response to the high cost of living that many of us are currently facing.
“While I understand and empathise with the frustration and hardship we are going through, embarking on a protest may not be the right decision for our country right now. More often than not, peaceful protests end up in violence and destruction of public & private properties.
“We need to remember that we are a resilient and united nation. We have faced numerous challenges in the past, and we have always come out stronger when we stand together.
“Instead of resorting to a protest that has the potential of turning violent. Let us exercise restraint and patience, giving our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the time and opportunity to address the issues at hand. We believe in his capacity to deliver and I believe he will.
“I acknowledge that the high cost of living is a pressing concern for all of us, and it is only natural to want immediate solutions. However, change takes time, especially when it comes to implementing long-term reforms that will have a lasting impact.
” We must trust in our President’s commitment to fixing our country and give him the chance to address these challenges., he is on course, we should not distract his attention.
“Furthermore, I want to trust that the President will consider reshuffling his cabinet in the near future and bring fresh ideas and people who will key in his renewed hope. This could bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to his administration, allowing for greater progress and development.
” Also, I would like to advise the President to caution or suspend his Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga who is bent on creating enemies for the president than friends due to his utterances on social media. It is no secret that our country is going through a period of immense economic hardship.
” As a Special Adviser, Mr. Onanuga should be working towards fostering unity, and ensuring that the government’s policies are communicated effectively to the Nigerian people. However, the actions and words of Mr. Onanuga seem to be doing quite the opposite. His rhetoric has been divisive and inflammatory, creating adversaries for the President and his administration across the country.
“The other day, Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA
made some frivolous claims against the African richest, Aliko Dangote. We must understand that Aliko Dangote is not just a prominent Nigerian businessman, but also a global brand that has brought immense pride and investment to Nigeria. His contributions to the country’s economy and development cannot be overstated. As such, Nigeria must do everything within its power to protect and support him.
“The false claim made by Farouk Ahmed not only tarnishes Dangote’s brand but also has the potential to create division and animosity between the North and the President. I hope President Tinubu will take urgent steps to suspend Farouk Ahmed to send a clear message that false claims and actions that could harm the reputation of influential individuals or create division within the country, will not be tolerated.”
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