Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has urged Nigerians to celebrate the gains of President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, saying they indicate better days ahead.
In a statement Monday, the former media aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan also expressed happiness at Syria’s President Bashir Assad’s fall weekend and said it was a sign that foreign interventionists would always prioritise their nation’s interest.
“We should celebrate our recent 3.46% GDP growth, phenomenal 4.3% unemployment rate, record-breaking ₦5.8 trillion third-quarter trade surplus, revamping of the Port Harcourt refinery, and steady appreciation of the naira,” he said.
Omokri said despite the short-term pains of the reforms, there was ample evidence that the economy was on a growth trajectory that would assure a better future for Nigerians.
He said the reforms, which cancelled wasteful subsidies on petrol and forex, had freed up more money for the government at national and sub national levels to address the people’s urgent needs, including infrastructure, health, and education.
He said Tinubu’s skilful management of the economy led to debt reduction and a quantum improvement in the nation’s foreign reserves, which now stand at over $40 billion.
He urged those still brooding over the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, which produced President Tinubu, to come to terms with the reality of his presidency and cooperate with him to take the nation out of its economic crises.
Commenting on the weekend fall of Syria’s President Bashir Assad despite Russia’s staunch support, he said the incident should teach Nigerians, who waved the Russian flag during the August cost of living protest, that foreign interventionists would always prioritise their national interest.
“When push came to shove, the Russian government took the most prudent action for their safety. They focused on their war with Ukraine and prioritised it over propping up the Assad regime,” he said.
He added that, “Moral of the story: Self-interest will always prevail over the interests of your allies.”
Omokri added: “Nigerians should learn from the recent experience and the happenings in our neighbours and accept that regardless of feelings about the outcome of the #NigerianElections2023, democracy is still the best form of government for a multiethnic and religiously heterogeneous nation like Nigeria. At the same time, free-market policies suit our economy.”
