…Vouches Tinubu’s ‘capacity’
…Urges NLC to ‘soft-pedal’
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Her Royal Highness (HRH), Queen Mother Amb. Amina Temitope Ajayi, has given her reasons for supporting President Bola Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy and vouched for his capacity to start and end the removal in favour of the country.
A Nigerian-American based, Amb Amina Ajayi (JP), popularly known and also addressed as Mama Diaspora, made the assertions in an interview with our Kaduna correspondent.
While she described fuel subsidy as “conduit pipe, socking the blood of the nation’s resources,” Amb. Ajayi also noted that the removal of the subsidy was long overdue.
Subsidy removal, she noted, has had the support of Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Finance Minister, Dr. Mrs. Okonjo Iweala, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and several other renowned economic experts.
“Since I was very small as young adult, we have been having series of strikes in this country. Experts are experts; Labour is labour, A Looter Continual,” she said.
While she praised Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Amb Ajayi, who referred to Labour as “father of the nation manpower resources,” appealed to them to give the new-born baby government’s leadership the support on the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to her, “Without being sentimental, the subsidy regime is killing Nigeria. No foreign investors would want to invest in a country with unstable economy.
“Maybe, this one will make us to see the reality. I’ve been in Nigeria consistently for well over two years now. In America, you work very serious for every penny you spend, no handout; you will see your priority, there’s dignity in labour,” she emphasized.
She said in everyday of her daily life, she prayed and wished Nigeria is like America; also advising that, if money is pumped into the economy for enterprising Nigerian youths, the country would also grow her own technology, foods, other essentialities instead of importations.
“It’s unfortunate, I felt it too, initially, when I heard of N550 per litre of fuel. To fill my tank now is a lot of money, but the reality is staring on my face. Before you go out, you weigh your pros and cons.
“If we want our children and children yet unborn to enjoy the country, time of subsidy removal must be now. If possible, let’s reduce it to N250 per litre, if is too much.
“A good leader leads through turbulent situation, no matter what it will cost it. Nigeria will survive and will not crash. Labour is the father of the nation, nurture the baby government of less than one week to growth.
“No government that disregards Labour potential will, however, have it easy. Labour should support subsidy removal,” she appealed.
On palliative, while she admitted it should have come first, she however stated that Baba Tinubu she knows will roll out the palliative measures, as promised, to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal very soon.
