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Just in: LP Abia Gov. Otti pays Tinubu visit in Lagos, canvases support for FG’s economic reform 

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Rising above partisan politics, Abia Gov. Alex Otti of the Labour Party was among visitors, who came calling on President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Christmas Day.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka also
visited the president.

Otti’s message to Nigerians is that they should be patient with the Bola Tinubu administration, saying issues with the economy requires time to take shape.

He expressed the hope that the economic reforms would yield positively if sustained.

“One thing is that he has a very courageous, unifying policy; the exchange rate and then removing subsidy which actually has become a scam and costing us a lot of money.“Those policies are good but then they come with the negative sides. They come with challenges for an economy where over 60 percent of the population is living below the poverty line.

“So, it’s not going to be easy, immediately. But I believe that if we are patient and if we go through the policies without compromising, over time, things will turn around,” the Abia governor told newsmen.

Soyinka, while also speaking to newsmen after the visit, has said he would assess Tinubu’s administration after one year.

“Well, you know, something you may have noticed about me is that most heads of state, when they take office, I always leave them alone for about the first year…because they need time.

“I know when they come in, they don’t start from ground zero. They often start even lower than ground zero and they have to make up.

“So, I’m adopting the same principle this time. When you see me next year, ask the same question again and listen to my answer,” Persecondnews quotes Soyinka as saying.

According to him, he had earlier tried to persuade Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of PDP not to run for the office of president and allow somebody else to run.
On the purpose of the visit, Soyinka said he discussed a seven-point agenda with the president but did not give details.

“I came here with a seven-point agenda. And we had a very thorough discussion on those items.“Actually, it’s an embarrassing visit because when I visited him the last time, it was to try and persuade him not to run for office.

“I told Atiku and himself to please leave the ground so young people could run. That’s the last time we met about five years ago,” Soyinka said.

“So I came to see how he was doing after ignoring my advice. I came to see how both he and his wife were weathering Nigeria, and to wish them a Happy Christmas”

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