Ahead of the planned nationwide mass protest against economic hardship in the country, the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 Kogi elections, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has urged citizens to exercise restraint.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Ajaka called for patience to allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu address the nation’s multifaceted challenges rather than embarking on unproductive mass protest.
He stated that President Tinubu with his wealth of experience was already on track in the bid to fix the nation to make it work again and as such he should not be distracted but rather should be encouraged to deliver his mandate to the nation.
He, however, tasked President Tinubu to immediately rejig his cabinet so as to inject fresh blood into the administration for him to faithfully implement his laudable policies to the nation.
Ajaka also urged the President to caution some of his aides against making unguarded utterances on sensitive issues, saying that some of them should be immediately relieved of their offices for the President to connect with the citizens.
‘While I understand and empathize with the frustrations and hardships we are going through, embarking on a protest may not be the right decision for our country right now. More often than not, peaceful protests end up in violence and destruction of public and private properties.
“We need to remember that we are a resilient and united nation. We have faced numerous challenges in the past, and we have always come out stronger when we stand together.
”Instead of resorting to a protest that has the potential of turning violent. Let us exercise restraint and patience, giving our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu time and opportunity to address the issues at hand. We believe in his capacity to deliver and I believe he will.
”I acknowledge that the high cost of living is a pressing concern for all of us, and it is only natural to want immediate solutions. However, change takes time, especially when it comes to implementing long-term reforms that will have a lasting impact.
”We must trust in our President’s commitment to fixing our country and give him the chance to address these challenges., he is on course, we should not distract his attention
”Furthermore, I want to trust that the President will consider reshuffling his cabinet in the near future and bring fresh ideas and people who will key in his renewed hope. This could bring fresh perspectives and renewed energy to his administration, allowing for greater progress and development,” he said.
Ajaka admonished President Tinubu to caution his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, who he alleged is bent on creating enemies for the president than friends due to his utterances on social media.
“It is no secret that our country is going through a period of immense economic hardship.
”As a Special Adviser, Mr. Onanuga should be working towards fostering unity, and ensuring that the government’s policies are communicated effectively to the Nigerian people. However, the actions and words of Mr. Onanuga seem to be doing quite the opposite. His rhetoric has been divisive and inflammatory, creating adversaries for the President and his administration across the country.”
