By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to remove petroleum subsidy on the day of his inauguration has come under flak and described as too hasty and inconsiderate of the hardship Nigerians are going through.
Pastor Ademola Popoola, the cleric in charge of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, District Headquarters, Muritala Mohammed Way, Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, said the President should have tarried a bit, consulted economic experts, and put necessary palliatives in place before its removal.
The cleric, who noted that the citizens have been going through a lot of difficulties, pain and hardship since the subsidy was hastily removed without putting in place measures to cushion its effect, said the government can still retrace its steps and do the needful, particularly the implementation of all the palliatives announced that are yet to see the light of the day, including a new minimum wage for workers and pensioners across the country.
Pastor Popoola, who spoke on Sunday in Ilorin at the 2023 Carol programme of the Church, stressed the need for the President to bring into his administration reputable economic experts that understand the economy and can rejig it accordingly.
He said: “The President should find a way to bring down inflation, and improve the economy. He should take his time and study his policies and take it in another dimension by making sure that the economy is properly and well boosted. The people you fail to help today will become your enemy tomorrow and they will attack you, a hungry man is an angry man, if he sees you living in affluence he will attack you.
“I’m begging Mr President don’t let naira be determined by dollar again, let naira determine naira, if there’s food in the town naira will go up, over reliance on fuel makes naira fall. The government should provide for the people road system to farm and also improve the health system. However, if government fails to do their own part, Nigerians must be their brother’s keeper, don’t cheat anybody.”
To the youths, the cleric said: “My advice to the youths is that they should not allow the fear of the downturn in the economy to push them to do what is wrong, the youths should serve God, if they do what is right God will bless the work of their hands, the youths should be their brother’s keeper, and not be self-centered.”
In his sermon, Pastor Olaolu Adeyemo said Jesus Christ is joy and brings joy, adding that no matter what the people are passing through, if they allow Jesus Christ to come into their lives, they are bound to have peace and experience a good turn around.
He said: “Jesus Christ is joy and whoever wants to have that joy should give their lives to Christ.”