Politics

Presidential Aide Khadijat Omotayo Urges Nigerians to Stop Attacking Tinubu Over Fuel Subsidy Removal

Published by Tope Fakinlede on February 9th, 2025.

Presidential Aide Khadijat Omotayo Urges Nigerians to Stop Attacking Tinubu Over Fuel Subsidy Removal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Khadijat Omotayo, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Constituency Affairs, has called for an end to the ongoing criticism of the president regarding the removal of fuel subsidies. She explained that the policy is designed to benefit all Nigerians.

During a town hall meeting in Jos, Plateau State, on Saturday, Omotayo defended the Tinubu administration, emphasizing the ongoing economic reforms and social programs being implemented. She noted that the funds saved from the subsidy removal have been redistributed to the states and that salary increases for workers have already been implemented, with more increases expected in the future.

Omotayo stated, “At this point, I don’t expect us to keep attacking the President, who wants to ensure the benefits of democracy reach every state. If the president were a partisan politician, he wouldn’t have allowed me to come to Plateau, a PDP state. But here I am, representing him because he wants to include everyone. During the election, we fought for it and won. Now, after the elections, we need to include all Nigerians.”

She continued, “Yes, the president removed the subsidy, but the money from that has been shared with all states. As for the salary increases, when was the last time a president increased workers’ salaries? I believe President Tinubu deserves some gratitude. He has been in office for less than a year and has already raised salaries, and he has promised that more salary increases will follow.”

Omotayo also encouraged students to take advantage of the newly introduced student loan program, highlighting that the repayment process is designed to be manageable.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang, represented by the State Commissioner for Youths, Musa Ashoms, praised Tinubu’s administration for its efforts in developing Plateau State. Mutfwang noted, “The President is doing a lot for us in Plateau, but like Oliver Twist, we are asking for more. It’s our time for development.”

Omotayo urged Nigerians to work together to build a prosperous nation and advised them to hold their representatives accountable instead of directing their frustrations solely at the president. She added, “We should be asking questions of our representatives, not attacking the president. He has the means to stay at home and not contest, but he chose to bring renewed hope to Nigerians, which is why he said ‘Emilokan.’”

The meeting saw attendance from various groups, including market women, youth organizations, labor leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, and students.