Majority leader of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Gbajabiamila, who noted that sacrifices would have to be made in the interest of the country, said most of Nigeria’s current problems started about 16 years ago.
While noting that there are no quick fixes to the current challenges facing the country, the lawmaker said that if it took President Barack Obama of the United States almost eight years to “take America out of the rots he inherited”, then the Nigerian president would not be able to do the same in ten months.
Speaking at the fourth convocation ceremony of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo state, Gbajabiamila said: “I am aware Nigerians are facing challenges and everybody is complaining but I want us to look at this problem contextually,” he said.
“Let us look at advance countries like US it took almost eight years for Obama to take America out of the rots he inherited. It is the same thing that is going on in Nigeria we inherited a rot that there is no way we could come out of it in 10 months.
“The drafters of our constitution gave him (President Buhari) 4 years knowing fully well that it is nearly impossible for something meaningful to be achieved in 10 months.
“Change is an organic thing and cannot be achieved overnight. It is not only in the physical but most times in the subliminal. We see that change every day in our psyche and mentality and I plead that Nigerians should be a little bit patient with this government.
“We are coming out of a hole and in no time I believe we will come out that hole into the promise land and our destined future.
He also advised the graduating students to avoid unlawful conduct, particularly during the Ondo state governorship election.
“I want to charge the students that elections are beckoning again in Ondo state. I am a politician and I know you are the ones politicians run to in their time of need and that time of need is now, election time,” he said.
“I don’t want you to leave this hall and fall into the same trap and be dumped afterwards. I want you to go out there and exercise your franchise and civic responsibility with the fear of God so that your state would be the better for it.”
The lawmaker received honorary award at the ceremony, including Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, and Rotimi Ibidapo, an acclaimed businessman.
Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, led other members of the lower chamber of the national assembly to the event.
