Amidst Nigerians grappling with a high cost of living and a surge in commodity prices, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ismaeel Ahmed, has defended President Bola Tinubu against blame for the nation’s economic challenges.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Ahmed stated that the painful decisions taken by the current administration were essential for the nation’s economic recovery. He emphasized that these decisions were part of the campaign promises made not only by President Tinubu but also by other candidates.
“Hard decisions were taken. None of these decisions was not promised during the campaign, not only by President Bola Tinubu but by other candidates as well,” he said.
“We are in a situation where things have to realign. The President has taken hard decisions, it is discomforting, we are all feeling the pinch, but I won’t say the President is to be blamed for.”
Since assuming office in May 2023, President Tinubu has implemented a series of reforms aimed at revitalizing the economy and boosting investment. However, these initiatives have led to a short-term surge in living costs. Measures such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira exchange rate have contributed to rising costs of living and transportation.
Ahmed highlighted that the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar, had also promised similar economic reforms before the 2023 presidential election.
Since Tinubu took office in May 2023, he has unleashed a raft of reforms aimed at revitalising the economy and boost investment but the initiatives have caused a short-term surge in living costs.
The President took some tough economic measures including the removal of fuel subsidies, which has led to rising costs of living and transportation.
Tinubu has also floated the naira exchange rate by abolishing multiple change rates, but this measure has lead to a massive depreciation in the value of the national currency.
The APC chieftain said that prior to the February 25, 2023 presidential election, the candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi; and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar; also promised to end fuel subsidy and to unify the exchange rate.
Although Tinubu has been barely a year in office, there are political permutations and combinations ahead of the next electoral cycle. Already, reports have emerged of talks between Atiku and Obi. To this, Ahmed said the move isn’t surprising, saying that his party will keep delivering the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“That is not surprising, I don’t know why that is a big deal. As a party in office, we will relish the possibility of a very strong opposition to keep us on our toes and actually do democracy the way it should be done.
“Nigerians will make a decision based on what they know of the people who are running for particular offices at every point in time. It is something that I look forward to; a very meaningful opposition because we haven’t seen that since we got into office.”
