Politics
Okupe defends Tinubu’s UK trip, says it is ‘a necessary retreat for economic reforms’
President Bola Tinubu’s recent trip to the United Kingdom has sparked intense debate among Nigerians, with many criticizing the timing of his two-week vacation amidst widespread economic hardship.
However, Doyin Okupe, a former presidential aide, has come to the president’s defense, arguing that the trip will provide Tinubu with a much-needed opportunity to reflect on his administration’s policies.
According to Okupe, the president’s decision to take a break from the hustle and bustle of Nigerian politics will allow him to reassess his cabinet and chart a new course for his administration.
“Personally, from my understanding of how presidents behave in periods of national crisis, I believe the president has willfully separated himself from officials, friends, and associates to reflect and review the last 17 months,” Okupe said in an interview with NAN, on Thursday.
READ ALSO: Atiku criticizes Tinubu’s fuel subsidy management
Okupe slammed critics of the president’s vacation, describing them as “uninformed.” He emphasized that the peaceful atmosphere abroad would enable Tinubu to avoid interference from political associates and focus on his administration’s economic reforms. “Staying anywhere in Nigeria definitely will not afford him such a peaceful and serene atmosphere to achieve his objective,” Okupe added.
Despite the criticism, Okupe remains optimistic about the outcome of Tinubu’s retreat. He believes that the president’s return will usher in a brighter future for Nigerians and bring relief and comfort to the masses.
With a cabinet reshuffle potentially on the horizon, Tinubu’s decision to take a step back and reassess his administration’s policies may be a strategic move to revitalize his economic reform agenda.
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