TROUBLE! Akpabio SHOCKS Nigerians, REVEALS What Tinubu Told Him About Buhari, Jonathan After Entering Office As President
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has described Nigeria as being on ” life support” when President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, emphasizing the critical state of the nation’ s economy under the previous administration. Speaking at his 2024 Constituency Briefing and Empowerment Programme at the Ikot Ekpene Township Stadium in Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North- West Senatorial District, outlined the severity of the challenges the new administration faced and the urgent need for systemic reforms.
Akpabio urged Nigerians to support President Tinubu’ s efforts to tackle the country’ s economic difficulties, noting that the country was in dire straits when the president took office. ” Nigeria was on life support, ” Akpabio declared, reinforcing the gravity of the situation and the necessity of implementing bold reforms to steer the nation toward recovery.
The Senate President highlighted several policy changes introduced by the Tinubu administration, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidies, the floating of the naira, and wide- ranging tax reforms. Akpabio lauded these decisions as vital measures for the country’ s economic rejuvenation, acknowledging the inherent risks but stressing that such actions were indispensable to addressing the nation’ s economic crises.
Drawing attention to a personal exchange with President Tinubu, Akpabio shared an anecdote that shed light on the president’ s initial shock at the state of the economy. According to Akpabio, when he asked Tinubu about his reaction to the state of affairs inherited from the previous administration, the president candidly replied, ” I must tell you, I didn’ t know it was this bad. ” This conversation underscored the depth of the country’ s economic challenges and the difficult decisions the president was faced with upon assuming office.
Despite the dire circumstances, Akpabio expressed strong confidence in Tinubu’ s leadership, citing his past success as Governor of Lagos State. Akpabio remarked, ” You did it in Lagos, and you will do it again for Nigeria. It’ s just a matter of time. ” He continued by offering prayers for the president, expressing belief that God would grant him the wisdom to guide the nation toward prosperity.
In addition to his remarks on Nigeria’ s economic recovery, Akpabio addressed the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, which was designed to support local communities by distributing various tools to enhance economic opportunities. He urged the recipients to make use of the tools for legitimate economic advancement, advising them against selling the items for quick financial gain. This guidance reflected Akpabio’ s broader message of empowerment and long- term self- sufficiency.
The Senate President’ s comments came at a time when Nigeria is grappling with the fallout from the economic reforms and the challenges of managing an economy transitioning from heavy state intervention to market- driven policies. The removal of fuel subsidies, in particular, has been a contentious issue, as it led to significant increases in fuel prices and subsequent protests. However, the government has justified these measures as necessary for the nation’ s long- term economic health, emphasizing that the funds previously spent on subsidies would be redirected toward critical infrastructure and social services.
Akpabio’ s support for the president’ s economic reforms is indicative of the broader political consensus within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) regarding the need for change. The party’ s leaders have largely backed the reforms, despite the public discontent and economic hardship that have accompanied them. The removal of subsidies and the devaluation of the naira have sparked debates across the country, with critics arguing that the policies disproportionately affect the poor, while supporters contend that they are essential for stabilizing the economy and reducing the fiscal burden on the government.
The Senate President’ s remarks also served as a reminder of the difficult political environment that Tinubu inherited. The challenges faced by the administration are not only economic but also political, as the president navigates an increasingly polarized national landscape. His government has had to manage demands for more inclusive governance, greater transparency, and accountability, all while tackling the structural issues that have plagued Nigeria for decades.
