AWARD-WINNING actor and comedian Gbenga Adeyinka say he still believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has what it takes to get the country out of the economic morass it has found itself.
Speaking during Our 2 Kobo Podcast, the confessed All Progressives Congress (APC) member said his support for the presidential aspiration of Mr Tinubu in 2023 stemmed from his achievements as governor of Lagos State, a feat he believes he could re-enact at the federal level.
While praising the President for the implementation of some policies, including fuel subsidy removal and autonomy for the 774 local government areas, the comedian opined that Nigerians would be in trouble if Mr Tinubu could not fix the country’s problems despite his capacity.
Hear him:
“If I’m passionate about you, I’m passionate about you. That’s my problem. And I believe that, and please take this to the bank, if Asiwaju (Tinubu) cannot set Nigeria right, then we’re in trouble. With his capacity, with what he knows, with the fact that he has nothing to gain or lose anymore, if he cannot set Nigeria right, then we’re in trouble. I’m scared for Nigeria.
“Even before the election, people were taking sides. Am I happy with the policies of the government? I suffer too. People should not forget that I’m a Nigerian too. Now, am I happy with the policies of Asiwaju? Some yes, some no.
“The man explained something. He said we have two options. We go the way we are going. I’ll be attacked for this one, but I’ll speak my mind. We go the way we have always gone. We keep borrowing money. We keep using our crude, for instance, I’m told, has been used to borrow money. We can change that and have a better tomorrow. Or, we continue this way and everybody is happy, and your children suffer.
“Do I believe he should have ended the subsidy, although he was not even the one that ended the fuel subsidy thing? I support fuel subsidy removal totally because of the amount of corruption that was in it.
“Do I think they’ve done a good job by tightening their belts when we need to tighten our belts? No. I believe that those cars that were bought for members of the National Assembly were an unnecessary oppression of the people, of the people who are suffering. What else have they done? I see a lot of restructuring taking place.
“Local governments are to get their money directly. If you have a vibrant local government, you can build the country from the bottom up, which is the way they do it abroad. Will governors allow the money to get to the local government? Some governors have said no, nine or so.
“If you get the local government right, it’s like getting a family right. Society will be better. Should people have gone to the streets to protest? There’s a fundamental right of protest. Should they have said the summit should be cancelled? No.
“Those are constitutional issues that should be dealt with constitutionally. I think what should have been done is to ask for a constitutional review. You can’t use illegality to remove someone legally elected.
“There are some people who are professional politicians. That is their job. You now wake up and say you want to come and… they will not even give you a ticket. With our current structure, it takes the grace of men for you to become president.
“That’s why when I see them, Sowore, saying they want to be president, Fela Durotoye wants to be president, Peter Obi wants to be president, and there’s one very intelligent guy, Moghalu wants to be president… I think we need to get these young people into the House of Reps, into the Senate, to rewrite our laws.”
“If Peter Obi becomes president of Nigeria with the same structure we have in place, there’s nothing he’s going to do.”
He added that with the likes of Obi, Omoyele Sowore, and Kingsley Moghalu in the Senate, no president will act without caution.
Eighteen-Eleven Media