Ogunmekan seeks patience with Tinubu’s reforms

The former president of the Nigerian-Swedish Chamber, Olayinka Ogunmekan, has called on Nigerians to exercise more patience with the administration of President Bola Tinubu and the reforms being carried out.

Ogunmekan said this in his New Year message, which was made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The Tinubu administration has introduced two critical reforms since its inception. They include the removal of fuel subsidies and the harmonisation of the segments of the foreign currency market which led to the free fall of the naira.

According to Ogunmekan, Nigerians should learn to be more patient and resist wailers, saying that he sees a very bright future for Nigeria with the reforms that he described as unprecedented in the history of the country.

“Nigeria needs a bold leader and we should give full support to President Bola Tinubu and suggest ways of improving the lots of Nigerians instead of just running the government down all the time. As human beings, I know we are very anxious to see things turn around overnight but let us be patient to enjoy the full benefits of the Renewed Hope. You cannot build a skyscraper overnight. Some processes must be followed, failing which the whole structure would collapse.

“Policies do not actualise like miracles. They take some time to be effective and beneficial to the populace. The states are now better off with the increased revenue allocation courtesy of the subsidy removal. Sooner or later, fuel prices would come down. The exchange rate has been very beneficial to exporters thereby encouraging local production for exports. We need to support this to discourage our dependence on imports,” he said.

On the controversial tax reform bills, Ogunmekan said there was a need for proper understanding to accept it.

He said, “We should not condemn based on personal interests. The brains that put it together are not enemies of progress. They mean well for all of us. You might not achieve much when you only stay indoors in your house as goodies might not come your way. You have to go out and seek. Most of our five-star hotels are always full of foreigners. They are not here for jamboree but for business. That is the way I take our president’s foreign trips.

“Nigeria is a blessed country and we should all patiently harness the potential for the full benefit of Nigerians.”

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