The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Saturday said the large turnout at an All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election in Lagos reflected growing public support for the Nigerian leader despite economic hardship caused by ongoing reforms.
Speaking in Surulere, Lagos, Gbajabiamila defended the reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing them as painful but necessary measures that would deliver long-term benefits.
“This crowd is out here for one reason and one reason only — to express their love and desire for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the next four years,” he said during the APC primary election.
The former speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives said many citizens understood that reforms often came with temporary difficulties before producing results.
“The reward of these policies will be reaped in the long term. When you are reforming, you don’t expect the gains immediately. It’s a long-term thing,” Gbajabiamila said.
He compared the current economic situation to childbirth, saying Nigerians would eventually benefit from the policies once the difficult period passed.
“And like the President has always said, it’s like the birth pains of a pregnant woman. For eight or nine months, there is discomfort and pain, but when the child is delivered, all those pains are forgotten,” he said.
“All those pains are completely out of the window, and you begin to enjoy the benefits of your newborn baby. That is exactly what is going on in Nigeria today,” he added.
Gbajabiamila also pointed to the presence of his 96-year-old mother at the event as evidence of strong support for Tinubu and the ruling APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Nigeria has faced rising inflation and economic pressure since Tinubu introduced sweeping reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies and currency liberalisation, measures the government says are aimed at stabilising the economy and attracting investment.
