The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for patience from Nigerians, urging them to give President Bola Tinubu more time to address economic challenges.
In response to discontent and planned August protests, Tunji-Ojo highlighted on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics the complexity and long-standing nature of the nation’s economic issues.
“Mr President, to the best of my knowledge, never campaigned to be a magician; he campaigned as a statesman. He campaigned on the basis of ‘Renewed Hope’. Before hope could be renewed, it had dwindled,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
He emphasized that addressing economic problems stemming from decades of mismanagement cannot happen overnight.
“What you see today is an accumulation of mismanagement over the last 100, 60, 30 years,” he added.
The minister’s plea for patience comes amid skyrocketing prices of food and basic commodities, worsened by recent government economic policies such as the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of forex windows. These measures, while aimed at stabilizing and strengthening the economy in the long run, have triggered one of the worst inflation rates and economic crises in recent memory.
Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the immediate hardships caused by these policies but insisted that they were necessary steps for the nation’s long-term sustainability.
“Nigeria is going through a surgical process and will emerge healthy and strong. We are pleading for time,” he said.