Former House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and elder statesman Olusegun Osoba yesterday hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking decisive steps to reposition the country within three weeks of his inauguration.
Dogara welcomed the withdrawal of the petrol subsidy and urged the President to bring to book the cabals that corrupted the subsidy regime.
Osoba described Tinubu as a determined, bold and courageous leader, who has taken “monumental decisions” in national interest.
The former Speaker spoke with reporters after attending a thanksgiving service to mark the completion of a six-year tenure of Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) General Secretary, Rev. Yunusa Nmadu Jnr in Kaduna.
Dogara, who opposed the Tinubu-Shettima same faith ticket, said President Tinubu has so far demonstrated commendable leadership qualities.
He said: “We stand by him on the subsidy removal, but he must be courageous to pursue the subsidy cabals and recover all the stolen monies from them and prosecute them accordingly.”
On the appointment of service chiefs, he said the President has also demonstrated leadership by carrying every region along.
The Senator representing Southern Kaduna, Sunday Katung (PDP), also commended the President on the appointment of the Service chiefs, which he said reflected equity and justice.
He urged the new service chiefs to address the insecurity ravaging the country, especially in the North.
The Federal legislator also urged the President to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal.
Tinubu on course, says Osoba
Osoba pointed out that many people who opposed Tinubu during the primary and general elections have started praising him for demonstrating the traits of an experienced and competent leader.
He noted that the president is living up to the promise of presiding over “a government of national competence.
”Osoba, veteran journalist and two-time governor of Ogun State, praised the president for his intervention in the fuel subsidy crisis and foreign exchange logjam.
The eminent politician spoke on the first three weeks of President Tinubu during an interview with an online television in Lagos.
Osoba said: “He (Tinubu) has started well. He has taken monumental decisions. He has shown that he is one fully prepared president.
The former governor said gone were the days when the Federal Government would spend trillions of Naira on fuel subsidy to the advantage of the privileged few and disadvantage of the poor who are many.
Osoba also reflected on the presidential decision on foreign exchange, saying that it was the right step.
He said a situation whereby some people would buy dollars at N400 and sell at N800, thereby becoming millionaires in a week, has come to an end.
Osoba berated the brains behind round-tripping, saying that the trend has discouraged the government’s ability to attract investment.
He said it was noteworthy that in taking those decisions, the president was not ready to be cajoled, lobbied and held hostage.
Osoba said foreign investors will be attracted by the removal of impediments to ease of doing business.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) elder also applauded Tinubu over the appointment of service chiefs, pointing out that the criteria of equity and balance were not eroded.
He said the appointments underscored the priority accorded to security by the President.
Recalling that Tinubu was blackmailed in the past by some people who said he was not healthy, Osoba said the President has proved his detractors wrong.
He stressed: “Those who were abusing him are now clapping. He has defiled all laws of gravity.
“He got the ticket, won the election and is ridding the country of exploiters in the system. He is laying a strong foundation. Our prayer is that God should guide him.”
