Presidential Aide Lauds Tinubu’s Reforms Amid Youth Protest Calls

A Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Matters, Sunday Ashefon, disclosed yesterday that President Bola Tinubu deserves credit for his significant investment in the education sector.

Ashefon asserted that no past leader has accomplished as much within one year as Tinubu has.

He made these remarks at a town hall meeting convened by Mr. Osahon Okunbo, Chairman of Wells Carlton Hotel and Apartments, for organized youths, students, and civil society members in Abuja.

The meeting aimed to mobilize and enlighten youths on the dangers of violent demonstrations ahead of Thursday’s nationwide protest.

According to Ashefon, President Tinubu has always intended to empower and support Nigerian youth even before assuming office.

He stated, “If there is someone who has been in the street and in the trenches, who knows where the shoe pinches, it has been Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He is a president who opens doors for young ones to thrive. Even in this government, he has provided opportunities for young ones to be ministers.”

Ashefon highlighted his background as a former president of the National Association of Nigerian Students under ex-Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari.

He claimed that no president has invested as much in education within one year as Tinubu. Ashefon admitted, “I have failed to leave my office and go into the streets, centers, and campuses to tell the students all that this government has done within one year in office.”

He cited the student loan scheme and the removal of university lecturers from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System as some of Tinubu’s contributions to the education sector.

In a similar event, Udengs Eradiri, former Bayelsa governorship candidate of the Labour Party, appealed to demonstrators to avoid vandalizing public and private properties during Thursday’s planned protest. He warned that the destruction witnessed during the November 2020 EndSARS demonstration is still fresh in Nigerians’ minds.

NANS FCT Chairman, Hassan Dokpesi, also expressed his opposition to the planned protest, advocating for a national dialogue to discuss potential solutions to Nigeria’s problems. Dokpesi emphasized the need to shift focus from youth empowerment to youth sustainability.

Abayero Rebecca, Convener of the Grassroots Women and Youth Mobilizer Initiative, voiced her opposition to the planned protest.

Known as Mother Arewa, she praised the current administration’s responsiveness and emphasized the importance of dialogue before any protest.

Rebecca noted, “For the first time in Nigeria, we have a listening president who not only listens but acts immediately.”

Rebecca also pointed out the lack of national consensus for the planned protest, stating, “I’m against the protest because some parts of the country are not participating.”