Ayodele Fayose, a former governor of Ekiti State, says President Bola Tinubu’s administration has done well in stabilising Nigeria’s economy and believes the country’s turnaround will not happen overnight.
Fayose said this on Monday night after visiting President Tinubu in his Lagos home.
“My visit is personal, to further encourage him to continue to do what he’s doing for Nigerians,” the former governor and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told journalists after the visit.
“No one is saying it is easy, but there is no miracle that can turn around things overnight.”
According to him, the president deserves accolades for stabilising the economy despite the tough decisions taken by the current administration.
“But for the little the president has done, we must commend him,” Fayose said.
Fayose said despite criticising the past administration, his praise of Tinubu’s government is because of the president’s efforts.
“I was a one-time critic of the last administration, but you cannot compare the situation now,” he said.
“So, for me, I’m here, one, to take the opportunity of his homecoming, to visit him. And to encourage him to do more for Nigerians.”
Fayose said even while he was a governor under the PDP, he believed in Tinubu’s capacity.
“Even while I was off in office as a PDP governor, sitting governor, I’ve always believed in his leadership and I did not hide my support for him even before he became the president,” he said.
“And the only thing we can do as leaders of this country today is to continue to encourage him to lift up his hands, to make the public understand how uneasy it is to lead an economy that is down and today is being stabilised.”
Since assuming office as president, Tinubu has rolled out several policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy, the floating of the naira, among others. These policies have been widely criticised as the cost of living soared in Nigeria.
However, the former governor welcomed the reforms, which he said would give hope to Nigerians.
He said, “You see, there’s a difference between things changing outrightly, there’s no miracle, but stabilising the economy, stabilising the currency, and a few courageous steps the president has taken, and the achievement of his administration put hopes into tomorrow for all of us”.
Fayose also restated his commitment to the main opposition PDP and said he would rather quit politics instead of leaving the party.
“Well, let me first of all clear this. Ayo Fayose will not move from PDP to any political party, not even APC,” he said. “I am 65 years old this year. It is within the choices of those who are choosing to move.”
