By Seyifunmi Odunuga
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been encouraged to use certain palliative measures to lessen the suffering of the populace brought on by the elimination of fuel subsidies. He has also been urged to launch a huge publicity campaign and inform the populace about the potential impacts of the government’s move.
This was stated in the congratulations letter that Prof. Sabit Ariyo Olagoke JP, the Founder, Spiritual Head, and Grand Imam of the Shafaudeen in Islam Worldwide, provided to journalists in Ibadan.
Prof. Olagoke asked President Tinubu to take a risk and reveal the names of the sectors that benefited from the subsidy removal in order to demonstrate to Nigerians the Federal Government’s sincerity in its removal of the subsidy.
Prof. Olagoke, who also serves as the Mogaji of the OgunElu, Aare Alasa Dynasty, commended the President for acting bravely on his first day in office. Prof. Olagoke made a suggestion that notwithstanding President Tinubu’s election-winning campaign promises to end the subsidy.
While discussing the most popular palliative materials, Prof. Olagoke recommended the president provide all of the States of the Federation with buses and functional railway systems so that people may conduct their daily business with ease.
“Now that the pump price of petrol has risen to ₦500.00, the negative effect of that will be a hike in transport fares and many consumables will be expensive but if the Federal Government can improve on our transportation system, the effect will not be too harsh on the people”.
However, the Arole OgunElu urged Labour leaders to engage in conversation with the Government as opposed to conflict, which might destabilise and stifle the economy.
“Labour leaders should not engage in any form of confrontation and violence that can set the Nation on fire”.
Prof. Olagoke also urged President Tinubu to urgently work on a quick transformation of our refineries within the first year of his administration, which in his view will later force the price of petrol to decline and allow us to make money from exporting petrol rather than crude oil.
The Shafaudeen CEO, however, expressed his happiness that the president will choose members of his cabinet based on their ability to fit a round peg into a round hole.
“If President Tinubu can remove subsidy, he would have delivered more incentives in reducing corruption than many last governments put together”
“The political will to see these through and the resilience and solidarity of Nigerians will be required because these will be a very difficult pill to swallow. Radical surgery and radiotherapy may bring a cure, but they are not painless procedures” Olagoke added.