The immediate past Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, on Saturday, urged Nigerians to bear with the government over the hardship induced by some economic reform policies of President Bola Tinubu.
Adeoluwa stressed that Nigerians should exercise patience, and see this challenging period as a necessary sacrifice for rejuvenating the economy and ultimately repositioning the country for a brighter future.
The former SSG acknowledged that, although things may be a bit tough for the people now, this is not to say that the government is not on the right path, adding that very soon Nigerians will begin to reap the benefits of these necessary reforms being implemented to strengthen the economy.
Adeoluwa made this disclosure on Saturday during the inauguration of Revenue Consultant Shafih Amusa and Muritala Adekunle, a Permanent Secretary with the state government, as Emperor and Deputy Emperor, respectively, of the Empire Section of Abeokuta Sports Club.
Other dignitaries at the event included the President of Abeokuta Sports Club, Seni Ogunyemi, who also doubles as the Commander of Ogun State Transport Compliance and Enforcement Agency, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, the Commissioner for Forestry, Engr Taiwo Oludotun, and the outgoing Emperor of the Empire Section of the club, Samson Dosunmu, among others.
Speaking with journalists at the event, the lawyer said, “There can be no doubt that things are very hard for everyone. The peculiar aspect of our circumstances is that everyone is concerned, but I can tell you for free that the government of the day is on the right path.
“As Nigerians, we just have to be patient for the benefits of these reforms to begin to materialise. We are all stakeholders in this race, and we wish President Bola Tinubu well in all his endeavours.”
The former SSG urged the newly inaugurated Emperor Amusa to uphold the highest values of integrity, unity of purpose, and selfless service that the prestigious club is known for, in order to galvanise support for the development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
Amusa, while speaking to journalists at the occasion, urged social clubs to find ways to complement the developmental efforts of the government, adding that this prevailing harsh economy calls for greater support for the people and that social clubs should take the lead.
He said, “We have always given back to society in various ways; we engage in numerous philanthropic activities, and we are involved in other projects in the community. In this critical time we find ourselves in, we should not relent.
“We have always prioritised giving back to society; we know that the economy may be harsh, but out of that little we have, we must learn to support others. I am sure that Abeokuta Sports Club will always take the lead with its over 3,000 members…”
The Revenue Consultant also urged the youth, amid the challenging times, to stay positive, encouraging them to shun vices and any destructive tendencies that could hinder their dreams from coming true.
He said, “For the young people, I have always told them what my father told me: you will get what you give. If you say things are hard, our leaders are corrupt, and you now want to be negative, embracing vices and violence, then you will have yourself to blame when the long arm of the law catches up with you.
“But if you choose to stay positive in your community and your school, and are willing to add value to the lives of others, you’re definitely on your way to the top; I speak from experience. Our youths must maintain a positive outlook on life to achieve their goals.”
Speaking on what he hopes to do differently, Amusa said that he would rely on his rich experience as a former secretary and immediate past Deputy Emperor of the Empire Section of the club, as well as the support of other members, to uplift humanity and contribute significantly to the development of the state and Nigeria as a whole.
He said, “I bring with me rich experience as someone who has served as secretary of the Empire Section, one of the 15 sections of the club, for six years, and as the immediate past Deputy Emperor of the section. I am also bringing my network of high-net-worth individuals.
“I am bringing my expertise as a revenue consultant to some states, so harnessing funds to drive our vision and mission won’t be a problem. I am committed to purposeful leadership and camaraderie that will further enhance our unity as a nation.”
He described the Empire Section as one of the 15 sections of the prestigious club where “we rejoice with one another, relax together after a hard day, network, and contribute to our national development. It is a place of friendship where we cherish and encourage the unity of all to move the nation forward.”