A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), and a northern supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Honourable Musa Sarkin Arda, has argued that the President’s economic reforms were necessary despite the hardship they have caused, urging Nigerians to assess his administration beyond regional and religious considerations.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, Arda acknowledged that Tinubu’s reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the harmonisation of the naira exchange rate, had caused hardship across the country, but attributed some public dissatisfaction to what he described as misperceptions and a lack of understanding of the policies.
“President Bola Tinubu should be assessed based on the best performance of Nigeria. Of course, he’s not very popular with some people now because of the reform policies he has brought—quite well, many people are not happy with what is going on. But it is necessary.
“I will maintain my position. President Bola Tinubu is being accused not only in the North, but in the entire federation, because the reforms he has brought have brought some difficulties, which all of us are witnesses to, and we cannot shy away from that one. It’s a fact. But there’s great misperception and misunderstanding.”
Arda also urged Nigerians to move away from judging political leaders based on their region, ethnicity or religion, insisting that leaders should instead be assessed on their performance, integrity and capacity to deliver good governance.
He said Nigeria must prioritise national unity and the common good, rather than allow regional and religious sentiments to determine political choices.
“I’ve always been of the view that issues shouldn’t be described in primordial sentiments—North, South, religion, this, this, and that. It is standard that we should start thinking of Nigeria as a whole, as a national forum like this, and as a discourse like this.
“Let’s look at this: since we have come together, let’s move forward, unify this country to the extent that anywhere you belong to, you’ll just consider yourself a Nigerian, work for Nigeria, for the common good of everybody.
“So with this, I want to appeal to Nigerians to not always let the political debate depend on where they come from. Look at the people and their performances.”
Favour Odima
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