Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on Nigerians to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a second chance, noting that the President has made bold and necessary decisions aimed at strengthening the nation’s economy.
According to Naija News, Dogara made this call while speaking at a public lecture held in honour of Archbishop John Praise’s 65th birthday. He lauded President Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidy, describing it as a courageous move that, despite its painful consequences, was in the nation’s best interest.
“If you look at it, for me it was a courageous decision to do away with subsidy. Now, there’s no decision that is not painful,” Dogara remarked. “I understand the difficulties, the challenges. So many families go to bed at night hungry. I have seen that.”
While acknowledging the hardship currently experienced by many Nigerians, Dogara emphasized that meaningful reforms often come with temporary pain. He appealed to citizens to allow the President more time to deliver on his promises and to assess his leadership based on performance.
“This is a time for governance. Let’s give this man an opportunity to perform again for some time, and then we will see what happens. And then we can make our judgments,” Dogara urged.
However, the former Speaker also stressed the importance of a free and fair electoral process in 2027, emphasizing that the President must not impose himself on the people using state power.
“But for me, you know, I want a situation where the President can win by the power of his example, not by the example of his power, to say that I’m forcing myself because I have my hands on the levers of the coercive apparatus of the state. No, but he should win on account that he has done very well and that a lot of people in this country support him,” he stated.
Dogara added that Tinubu has shown signs of genuine leadership and reform, noting that it takes courage to implement such policies.
Another speaker at the event, John Dara, also commended the President’s leadership, highlighting that his bold decisions have led to increased revenue for the national treasury.
The remarks from both leaders point to growing support within some political circles for the continuation of Tinubu’s economic reforms, with a call for citizens to remain patient and vigilant as the administration’s policies take shape.
