The South West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA) has said the decisions taken by president Bola Tinubu-led administration in its first 100 days were to preserve Nigeria’s future, economy and for the growth and transformation of the country.
The national chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, who made the claim, appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the president, saying the pains that accompanied the actions taken will soon be over.
He spoke yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital during the distribution of palliatives to cushion effects of fuel subsidy removal to members of SWAGA and other vulnerable citizens drawn from the 16 local government areas of the state.
The former minister of state for works, who explained that the president meant well for the country, added that the renewed hope agenda of the administration would soon be witnessed by the people in the country’s economy, education, infrastructures, and other sectors.
He said the decision of the group to roll out palliatives for the people was to reach out to them after securing victory at the February poll and to ameliorate the effect of the harsh effect of present economic situations on the people.
“The present circumstances in the country informed our decision to reach out to the people, especially looking at the inflation on essential commodities and we felt that we need to ameliorate the hardship of the people and that is why we presented succor to masses of the state especially our members.
“I am absolutely convinced that Nigerians have taken the right decision in voting for Bola Ahmed Tinubu. And let me say that everything that will bring great gain, it will bring a lot of pain at the beginning, that is the mark of leadership. If these decisions were not taken, it will be at a time the naira will be like N5000 to a dollar, not only that, you will not see the fuel and there will be queues with high cost everywhere.
“Imagining what would happen if there is no fuel at all, you can say the type of hardship people will be subjected to. It is better to prevent the horrible situation now. A leader must take painful decisions for the future and if he (Tinubu) had not removed fuel subsidies, in a year he will not be able to run the government.
“I believe as time goes on, we will begin to see the gains of these decisions in our economy and things will start shaping up. The government will create an enabling environment for people to thrive and ultimately enhance the socio-economic development of the country.”
He said the first 100 days of the president have been impactful and commended by stakeholders including international communities, adding that the nation’s economy will be better for it in a matter of time.
On the high number of cabinet members of the president with the latest appointment of two more ministers, the APC chieftain said, “The constitution did not stipulate the number of cabinet members the president can appoint, it only specified that you can appoint from every state of the federation.
“It is his prerogative, since there is that gap in the constitution at the moment, and maybe in future we can get a constitution amendment if you want the president to be limited to the number of people he can appoint.”
The chairman of the palliatives committee in SWAGA, Ayo Omidiran, who said the gesture was aimed at giving back to the people who stood by the party during the election, solicited the support for the president as he unfolds his agenda for the country.
