Akpabio, Akume Urge Nigerians to Be Patient with Tinubu’s Reforms
By: Israel Adeleke
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, have appealed to Nigerians to remain patient with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, assuring that the economic and political reforms currently causing hardship will yield long-term prosperity.
OTN News further reports as gathered that their appeal was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Assistant on Media, Communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong, against the backdrop of growing public concerns over rising poverty levels.
OTN News observes that since Tinubu’s announcement of the fuel subsidy removal on May 29, 2023, petrol prices have tripled, food inflation has surged above 35 percent, and the naira has continued its volatile decline against the dollar, worsening the cost-of-living crisis for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio likened the reform process to building a cathedral, stressing that it requires time, sacrifice, and resilience.
He said, “Let me seize this opportunity to urge my compatriots to be patient with your government as we lay the foundations of this house again. Do not despair when the winds blow strongly or the scaffolding shakes.
“For a nation is like a mighty cathedral—it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand. Let us, therefore, renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise.
He urged Nigerians to remain hopeful, insisting that the future would be brighter. “Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present. Let us bind the wounds of division, banish the cynicism of despair, and walk together—Church and State, pulpit and parliament, faith and policy—towards the dawn,” he added.
The SGF, Senator Akume, who represented President Tinubu at the gathering, echoed the same message, assuring that the government was committed to stabilising the economy and cushioning the impact of reforms.
“This administration came into office with a firm commitment to renew hope, strengthen our democratic institutions, and build a Nigeria that works for all.
“We have taken bold steps to stabilise the economy, attract investment, and implement reforms that will bring enduring benefits to our country,” he said.
He further called on the Church to continue supporting the administration’s policies, pledging that Tinubu’s social investment programmes would ensure no Nigerian is left behind.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, also addressed the gathering, commending the Catholic Church for its global role in promoting justice and democracy. He highlighted his government’s initiatives to reduce poverty and improve welfare for vulnerable citizens.
OTN News, however, observes from the information gathered that the plenary, attended by the Apostolic Nuncio and Papal representative to Nigeria, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, Catholic bishops from across the country, federal lawmakers, state officials, and hundreds of worshippers, provided a platform for political leaders to seek the Church’s support in navigating one of Nigeria’s most difficult economic transitions in decades.
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