The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, has said that although 2015 has so far been a tough year for Nigerians, 2016 would be tougher.
Adesina, according to a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, gave the submission while featuring on an interview programme on a private radio station, Radio Continental 102.3 FM.
The presidential spokesman argued that as much as the dwindling oil price continues, things would be tougher especially in the early part of the new year.
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| Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina |
“I agree that 2015 has been a tough year, but then it’s like 2016 would still be tougher, at least in the early part of that year. We have been running a mono-product economy based on oil, and as long as oil prices remain down, things will be tough,” he said.
Adesina however assured Nigerians that with President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle, Nigeria is in good hands.
He recalled that things were also rough for the country as at 1983 when Buhari took over as a military Head of State.
He said things started looking up for the country after a few months before the President was ousted.
Adesina argued that Buhari can do it again.
He said there was hope after the turbulence in the country.
He therefore solicited the support of all Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.
He said, “What I like to say is that Nigeria is in good hands. The times are rough, it could get rougher in the nearest future, but it would then get better.
“Don’t forget that in 1983, times were really very rough with Nigeria also. Then, there came a Head of State who began to reset the buttons, began to relay the foundations.
“And 20 months after, things were getting better, before a spanner was thrown in the works. That person, who is now the President, can do it again. I will just tell people to be patient. Rough times would come, but we will survive it.
“Tough times may be here but it will be over. There may be some turbulence, but after some time, we would begin to cruise. This President would get it right.
“We need to be patient and lend support. A number of people have decided to be critical, even when criticisms are not necessary. We are not in pre-election mode again.
“I would like to tell them that elections are over. In other parts of the world, when elections are over, they all team up and move the country forward. Let’s do the same with Nigeria.”
On the recent increase in electricity tariff, Adesina said unless the tariff was increased, there is no hope for better electricity supply in the country.
He added that Nigerians would have to trust and believe the administration that if tariff went up, things would get better.
“It has become inevitable that if things are going to get better, then tariff would have to increase. I would like to join Mr. Fashola to say, can we then trust the government, trust the minister and believe that with higher tariff, things would get better,” he said.
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