The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, have appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
They also assured that ongoing economic and political reforms would eventually translate into national prosperity.
The duo made the remarks in a statement released on Sunday by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong.
The appeal comes at a time of mounting public discontent, with labour unions, civil society groups, and opposition figures faulting the government’s policy choices, which they argue have deepened poverty. Since President Tinubu declared the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, petrol prices have more than tripled, food inflation has soared beyond 35 per cent, and the naira has continued to depreciate sharply against the dollar.
Speaking at the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, Akpabio acknowledged the prevailing hardship but likened the current phase to the painstaking process of constructing a cathedral, which, he said, requires sacrifice, patience, and resilience.
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“Let me seize this opportunity to urge my compatriots to be patient with the government as we lay the foundations of this house again. Do not despair when the winds blow strongly or the scaffolding shakes,” Akpabio said.
“For a nation is like a mighty cathedral, it is not raised overnight, but stone by stone, prayer by prayer, hand by hand. Let us, therefore, renew hope in the Nigerian enterprise. Let us believe again that our land can be great, that our children can inherit a future brighter than our present,” he added.
The Senate President further called on citizens to shun despair and work collectively across divides of faith, politics, and institutions to foster national renewal.
Also addressing the gathering on behalf of President Tinubu, the SGF, Senator Akume, assured that the government was committed to stabilising the economy, attracting foreign and local investment, and cushioning the impact of the reforms.
“This administration came into office with a firm commitment to renew hope, strengthen our democratic institutions, and build a Nigeria that works for all,” Akume said. “We have taken bold steps to stabilise the economy, attract investment, and implement reforms that will bring enduring benefits to our country.”
He urged the Catholic Church and other faith-based organisations to continue supporting the government’s efforts, pledging that the administration’s social investment programmes would ensure that no Nigerian is left behind.
