A former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged opposition figures to desist from persistent criticism of President Bola Tinubu over the country’s economic challenges.
Oyintiloye, who represented Obokun State Constituency, said the President needed encouragement from Nigerians as he worked to address the economic hardship facing the country.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain stated this in a statement obtained by PUNCH Online in Osogbo on Sunday, arguing that Tinubu meant well for Nigerians and should not be blamed for the prevailing economic situation.
He said although the hardship had negatively affected many Nigerians, the President was working to address the country’s economic challenges.
Oyintiloye cited major economic reforms introduced by Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, saying they were intended to stabilise the economy for the benefit of Nigerians.
He acknowledged that the policies had been difficult but maintained that they were necessary and had begun to yield positive results.
“What the President needs at this point is our encouragement, not harsh criticism or name-calling. What he met when he assumed office was a battered economy, and since then, he has been working round the clock to address the economic crisis.
“We should all remember that he was not the architect of the current economic challenges we are facing, and he cannot solve all the problems at once,” Oyintiloye said.
He urged opposition figures using the economic challenges to campaign against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election to have a rethink.
He argued that, based on their records in previous political offices, none of the opposition candidates seeking to replace Tinubu had demonstrated the capacity to outperform him.
“It would, therefore, be unwise to weaponise the current economic challenges, which the President is trying to address, against his presidential ambition,” he said.
Oyintiloye urged the President to do everything within his power to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
He also called on Tinubu to review social intervention programmes targeting vulnerable groups and strengthen other economic policies to ease the burden on the populace.
The former lawmaker expressed optimism that Tinubu would secure a landslide victory in the 2027 presidential election, citing what he described as the President’s achievements across various sectors.