By John Ogunsemore
Terver Akase, media aide to former Benue governor, Samuel Ortom said President Bola Tinubu has made some bold decisions that his predecessors could not.
He identified these decisions as removal of fuel subsidy and local government autonomy.
Akase said that while fuel subsidy removal has brought deep pains to Nigerians, those will be shortlived.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu marked his 73rd birthday yesterday amid a flurry of commentaries in the media, with many hailing him while others berate his performance thus far.
“Here is my personal opinion on the President’s nearly two years in office:
“President Tinubu has made very bold decisions that his predecessors couldn’t dare to make.
“The decision to remove fuel subsidies is one such courageous move. Though the pain caused by the fuel subsidy removal for ordinary Nigerians is currently deep and the measure may appear hasty, the overall impact will be better for the economy with the fraud-laden fuel subsidies now gone.
In addition, the removal of fuel subsidies has made funds abundantly available to the federal, state, and local governments at an all-time high of about 400%. This is why today, no state or local government in the country is talking about the problem of salary and pension payments. They have too much money not to pay.
“Another very courageous decision President Tinubu has made is granting full local government autonomy. Some state governors frantically tried to stop local government autonomy last year and went as far as the Supreme Court, but Asiwaju and his team triumphed! This is undoubtedly one of the best things to happen to local governments in this country.”
Akase added that Benue State has also been a beneficiary of the president’s good works.
“Coming home to Benue, President Tinubu has done well for us thus far. Aside from several monetary interventions sent to the state government, the President has given approvals for key infrastructural projects.
“Among the major projects is the ongoing construction of a bridge across River Buruku. Also, work has commenced on the Makurdi-Enugu road, which will now be a dual carriageway.”