…praises the president’s transparency, boldness
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Oshodi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approach during his first media chat held on Monday, December 23.
The discussion covered critical national issues, including the economy, security, education, agriculture, and health.
Speaking on TVC News on Tuesday, Oshodi remarked that no president in Nigeria’s history has been as candid and assertive in outlining their policies and objectives as Tinubu.
He praised Tinubu for fiercely defending his reforms, emphasizing their long-term benefits for the nation.
Oshodi emphasised the president’s transparency in addressing all questions, noting that representatives from various media houses, including those often critical of his administration, were present during the session.
“The president clearly articulated his policies, explaining to Nigerians what he aims to achieve and the methods he plans to employ,” Oshodi stated, describing Tinubu’s performance as a testament to his commitment to accountability and national progress.
He said: “I could be rather biased, but I will try to be fair and objective. There’s no other president who has been quite frank and bold in his policies and objectives. The president fiercely defended his policies and reforms, making a case that they were good for the country. He asserted that he knew what he was doing and that we should be patient.
“He was quite open. He had all the media houses there, even those that typically may not be favourable towards him. So his policies were laid out, he defended them, and he told the Nigerian public that this was what he meant and how he was going to do it.
“He also defended the fact that nothing could deter him from bringing about a better life and changing the situation in Nigeria. Many of his policies are controversial and extremely painful, but his intentions were very clear. I believe he reached out to the Nigerian population beyond the utterances from social media or media that would be less objective regarding his case.
“He reached out directly to Nigerians and told them this is what he plans, what he intends, and how it will change your life. He made great promises for 2025, which I was rather excited about. So, I believe it was quite a formidable and unofficial media chat directed to the Nigerians.
Commenting on the president’s assertion that Nigeria is on the path to recovery and his unwavering stance on the removal of fuel subsidies during his 2023 inauguration, Oshodi expressed confidence in the president’s understanding of the nation’s challenges.
He highlighted the president’s reference to individuals, including the affluent, who have adjusted their lifestyles by reducing vehicle usage and scaling back on the number of vehicles they operate.
He said: “I do believe he understands what Nigeria is going through, and I’ll tell you why. He referred to people who have changed their mode of life; affluent individuals who reduce their vehicle usage and the number of vehicles. Importantly, he has consistently mentioned that he understands and is aware of the pain Nigerians are experiencing.
“He has repeatedly stated this, and even his Minister of Finance has affirmed it, alongside all the heads of government. It is something he is aware of. I can tell you that his tenure as Governor of Lagos State encompassed many challenges.
“I remember that in parts of Lagos, he cleaned markets, streets, and trading areas. He was one of the first governors to undertake such actions, clearing many of the arteries through which cars and buses travel. It was very painful for a lot of Lagosians. He went out onto the streets and explained to them the reasons for his actions. We traverse many parts of Lagos right now. There is clear movement.
“He has his vision, and you cannot take that away from him. He knows where to start, how to start, the process involved, and the conclusion. This is a matter of experience. He is empathetic towards what people are going through, and he is consistently in communication with the country, which is very important.
“There is no need to simply state something and then sit back and watch events unfold. He is genuinely in constant communication. He articulates in every press conference he holds, whether in Nigeria or abroad, his reforms and intentions while addressing the issues people are facing.
“It is never going to be easy. Reforms can be painful. You can reference historical events in various places around the world, such as when Indira Gandhi enacted reforms.
“The Congress Party in India, in recent times, undertook economic reforms. We can also discuss how China opened up its economy following Chairman Mao’s rule and the changes that took place. You can mention Russia and its experiences.
“They were subsidising everything. They were queuing for bread and various staple items, which were heavily subsidised.
“You can consider the UK, regarding the welfare system that Margaret Thatcher reformed by confronting the unions. The UK is now one of the most thriving economies in Europe. It is a painful process.
“He knows the importance of history, has communicated this, and has demonstrated his commitment to following through. I believe he understands the challenges Nigerians face and is on the right track to resolve them. The reality is, there is a thin line between sympathy and empathy.
Addressing concerns about whether the government recognizes the sharp rise in the cost of living for many Nigerians in recent months, which has made affording basic necessities challenging, Oshodi remarked: “I would even assert that this extends beyond recent months. Over the years, we have been patching things up. We have been patching. We have been subsidising our future, subsidising the economy’s potential. We were meant to be the largest economy in Africa. S, we’ve been living a lie in many cases because that has not been our true state of affairs.
“The President has clearly stated that he’s open for business. He’s ready to change things and encourage investments in Nigeria. You can’t attract investments if an investor coming in from anywhere sees that your economy is subsidised. We can’t compete. The government is providing freebies for oil consumption, electricity, and forex. So, it’s just not authentic. And the President has taken steps to address that.
Commenting on the reforms initiated by the Bola Tinubu administration, he expressed confidence that these changes would positively transform the nation.
He said: “Regarding these reforms and how you explained them, again, it’s a necessary process, painful, albeit very painful. I’m pretty sure life has changed a lot for Nigerians. Even Nigerians in the Diaspora have huge demands.
“People from back home are asking them for more money. Even on the roads of Lagos, there’s less traffic because fewer people are using their vehicles. But things will balance.
“There will be an equilibrium whereby market forces and people will adjust their lives for better outcomes. So there’s no way you can improve the economy without these reforms. There’s absolutely no way.”
“President Tinubu did say that his administration has been able to meet its financial obligations without resorting to NNPCL for funding. So, the government is managing, no doubt.
Reacting to the President’s statement that he doesn’t believe in price controls, where the market should be supplied while allowing the forces of demand and supply to determine prices, he said the President expressed his confidence in the reforms showing more impact on the Nigerian population in the approaching year of 2025.
He said: “Well, I can tell you this much: the President has stated that he has confidence in his reforms showing more impact on the Nigerian population in the approaching year of 2025. So, that’s encouraging. But I want to state clearly that reforms are a continuous process.
“You can have a new administration coming in and reforming the system. There are various ways. It could be the electoral system. It could be the financial system. It could even involve issues of infrastructure. It could very much involve foreign policy.
“There’s always a constant need for reform. So, they can’t give a definitive time when, boom, everything is great, everything is back to normal, and we’re living in a state of paradise. So government is continuous.
“There are always challenges. There are always different things that you least expect. I mean, who expected the massive flooding and the dam breaking in Maiduguri, which affected so many people, impacted farming, and, in many ways, our GDP?
“That was unexpected. So how do you expect, when global challenges arise, what about prices in the Middle East, how they affect our oil exports, oil production, and oil consumption? So all these things are not necessarily in the government’s control.
“This is where reforms come into play, highlighting the fact that it’s a continuous journey. I’m confident that as the months and years unfold, it will take fusion. It will necessitate changes in the system. And the President has expressed that, as you just stated. I mean, look at NNPC. We used to depend heavily on NNPC. We used to rely so much on the means and ways of financing our budget. That, you know, has changed.
“Even debt decreased from 98 percent or 97 percent to 68 percent, according to the President. It’s remarkable. We’re not just paying off debt; we are reducing our debt portfolio and using the money for other necessary things in the economy. So it’s a change. You tell people on the street, you tell the Okada driver, you tell the market woman that this is what the President is saying.
“And they are like, it doesn’t affect me. It doesn’t change the hardship I’m experiencing. But I will tell you that, hopefully, that market woman, that Okada driver, that person in the village will see changes as the months, weeks, and years go by because they are structural changes.
“It’s going to affect their lives. They will have a way whereby they can show that, OK, if I farm, I will be able to go to the farm. Security will improve. I’ll be able to sell my produce. I’ll be able to send my children to school. I’ll be able to move from one part of the country to another without fear of being kidnapped.
President Tinubu’s cabinet size
Speaking on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet size, Oshodi remarked that simply reducing the number of ministers or limiting luxury expenditures like car purchases is insufficient for achieving effective governance.
“Believe me, cutting the cabinet size or reducing luxury car purchases is not enough if you want to talk about cutting government. There has to be a very efficient system in place. The government has revamped the RSO report.
“That is something that is on the agenda. The RSO report, I will just tell you, viewers, is streamlining the numerous federal parastatals and agencies. So that’s something the government is looking into, reviewing.
“So that it is more, I would say, impactful, if there’s anything. But no, cutting governance is not the be-all and end-all. We have to consider, as the President said, what is efficient. How do you ensure that people in positions are doing the job and doing it effectively? Believe me, if you have 20 ministers, does that make government cheaper? You have a greater concentration of work and more portfolios.
“But it doesn’t change. There are still issues; there are things that each minister is responsible for, encompassing all facets of the economy and political life. And there’s also a constitution that states that each state must be represented in the government’s cabinet.
“So how do you deal with that? How do you manage that? So cutting governance, I believe, is a grounded task. It’s not just about cabinets; it’s not just about luxury cars, as bad as that optics may be. It really is about efficiently running the government.
“And the President has explored ways of reviewing how the civil service operates, the government’s foreign trips, and many methods to ensure that the government is efficient.”
On President Tinubu’s concept of fighting corruption
Oshodi also spoke about President Tinubu’s approach to combating corruption, which includes closing loopholes, raising the standard of living, and increasing the minimum wage.
He remarked that fighting corruption is probably the second greatest challenge to humanity after bringing Adam and Eve into the world.
He acknowledged the bold steps the Tinubu administration has taken, pointing to the EFCC’s activities and the judiciary’s independence as evidence of progress in the fight against corruption.
According to him, “In society, we have that challenge. It’s just ensuring that we have strong institutions. I can’t stress this enough.
“You have strong institutions: you have the judiciary, you have the EFCC, you have the police force, you have the border agencies, customs, immigration, and even the person on the street not cheating a customer seeking to buy a specific item from him. So it’s a human thing. The President has taken bold steps towards that. You can see the outcome of what the EFCC is doing and the independence of the judiciary.
