Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
A former member of the Osun State House of Assembly and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged opposition politicians and Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to address the country’s economic challenges rather than focus exclusively on criticism of his administration.
Oyintiloye made the appeal in Osogbo, Osun State, on Sunday, October 25, 2026, acknowledging that Nigerians continue to face significant economic hardship while arguing that the government needs time and cooperation to implement its economic policies.
His comments come as the Tinubu administration faces continued public scrutiny over the cost of living, the effects of economic reforms and the difficulty many households encounter in meeting basic needs.
According to a report published by Daily Post, Oyintiloye maintained that Tinubu should not be held solely responsible for all the economic difficulties confronting the country. He argued that some of the administration’s policies were intended to address longstanding structural problems, although their implementation has imposed considerable pressure on citizens.
The APC chieftain’s intervention adds to the ongoing political debate over how Nigeria should address its economic difficulties and whether the government’s reform programme is delivering sufficient benefits to ordinary people.
While Oyintiloye called for greater public support, he also urged the President to intensify efforts to reduce hardship, particularly through improvements to social intervention programmes and policies designed to protect vulnerable households.
Oyintiloye Says Tinubu Needs Support to Address Economic Challenges
Oyintiloye argued that Nigeria’s economic difficulties cannot be resolved immediately and that the President requires cooperation from citizens and political stakeholders to implement measures intended to improve the country’s economic position.
He acknowledged that the reforms introduced under Tinubu have created difficulties for Nigerians but maintained that the policies were necessary to address deeper economic problems.
Among the major reforms he cited were the removal of the petrol subsidy and the adoption of a more market-driven foreign exchange system.
The policies, introduced after Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, significantly changed how the government manages petrol subsidies and the exchange rate.
The subsidy removal ended the federal government’s longstanding arrangement of keeping petrol prices artificially low through public expenditure. The foreign exchange reforms also sought to reduce distortions in the currency market and improve the availability of foreign exchange through a more unified system.
However, the transition has come with substantial costs for households and businesses.
Higher petrol prices have increased transportation expenses and contributed to pressure on the cost of moving goods and services. Businesses that depend on imported raw materials, machinery and other inputs have also faced challenges associated with exchange-rate movements and rising operating costs.
These pressures have made economic recovery a central issue in public debate, with Nigerians continuing to demand tangible improvements in their purchasing power and living conditions.
Oyintiloye’s position is that the reforms should be assessed alongside the structural problems they were intended to address.
However, whether the policies will deliver sustained improvements in household welfare depends on factors including inflation, employment, productivity, investment, public spending and the effectiveness of government support programmes.
Former Lawmaker Appeals to Opposition Politicians
The former lawmaker also criticised opposition figures who, in his view, were using the country’s economic challenges to campaign against Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He urged political opponents to reconsider their approach and focus on supporting efforts to address the country’s economic problems.
Oyintiloye argued that political competition should not prevent the government from pursuing policies intended to improve the economy.
He also questioned whether opposition politicians could offer more effective solutions, referring to their records in previous political offices.
His comments reflect the growing intersection between economic policy and political competition as parties and potential candidates prepare for the next general election.
Nigeria’s economic performance is likely to remain an important issue in the political debate, particularly because household welfare is directly affected by food prices, transport costs, energy expenses, employment opportunities and access to essential services.
For the governing APC, defending the administration’s economic policies involves demonstrating that the difficult adjustments introduced since 2023 can produce sustainable benefits.
For opposition parties, the economic situation provides an opportunity to question the government’s decisions, propose alternative policies and argue that the administration has not done enough to ease the burden on citizens.
Both positions form part of the democratic process. Criticism of government policy is a legitimate part of political accountability, while the government is responsible for explaining its decisions and demonstrating their results.
The effectiveness of any economic programme should ultimately be assessed through measurable outcomes rather than political assurances alone.
These include changes in inflation, real wages, employment, poverty levels, access to essential services and the purchasing power of households.
Nigeria’s Economic Reforms and the Cost-of-Living Crisis
The debate over Tinubu’s economic policies is closely connected to the wider challenges facing Nigeria’s economy.
When Tinubu took office in May 2023, his administration moved to remove the petrol subsidy, a policy that had required substantial public spending over many years.
The government argued that the subsidy placed a heavy burden on public finances and limited the resources available for infrastructure, healthcare, education and other development priorities.
The administration subsequently introduced foreign exchange reforms intended to address distortions in the currency market.
Although the measures were designed to address longstanding economic weaknesses, their effects on prices and household budgets became a major source of public concern.
Petrol price increases affected transport operators, commuters, traders and businesses that rely on road transportation. Higher logistics expenses can also feed into the prices of food and other essential commodities.
Exchange-rate movements have created additional challenges for businesses that depend on imported goods and materials, while households have faced pressure from the cost of food, rent, electricity, education and healthcare.
These effects have contributed to the public debate over whether the pace of reform has been matched by sufficient protection for low-income households.
The key issue is not simply whether the government has introduced reforms, but whether those reforms can translate into better economic conditions for the population.
For many Nigerians, the immediate measure of progress is whether their incomes can cover essential expenses and whether they can find stable employment and affordable services.
This distinction is important because improvements in government revenue, foreign exchange management or other economic indicators do not automatically mean that households experience an immediate improvement in living standards.
Economic recovery must eventually translate into stronger purchasing power, more employment opportunities and improved access to essential goods and services if citizens are to experience its benefits directly.
Calls for Stronger Social Intervention Programmes
Despite urging Nigerians to support the President, Oyintiloye acknowledged that the government must do more to alleviate the suffering caused by economic hardship.
He called on Tinubu to review existing social intervention programmes and strengthen policies intended to support vulnerable groups.
Such programmes can include cash transfers, youth employment initiatives, skills development, school feeding, agricultural support and other forms of social protection.
The objective is to reduce the pressure on households that have limited capacity to absorb rising prices and other economic shocks.
However, the effectiveness of social intervention programmes depends on how well they are designed, funded, implemented and monitored.
Financial allocations alone do not guarantee that assistance reaches the people who need it most. Transparent beneficiary selection, effective monitoring and reliable payment systems are important in reducing waste and ensuring that public resources produce measurable results.
In a report published by TheCable on October 1, 2026, Oyintiloye had similarly called for patience with Tinubu’s economic reforms while urging the government to concentrate on areas such as crude oil production, infrastructure, electricity supply, agriculture and employment.
He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the resources freed through subsidy removal translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
These concerns highlight a central challenge for the administration: economic reforms must be accompanied by policies that address the immediate needs of people affected by the transition.
For low-income households, even temporary increases in essential expenses can have serious consequences, including reduced food consumption, difficulties paying school fees and delayed access to healthcare.
Strengthening social protection can help reduce these pressures while longer-term economic policies are implemented.
The government must therefore balance its efforts to improve public finances and economic stability with the need to protect citizens from the harshest effects of economic adjustment.
Why Public Accountability Remains Important
Oyintiloye’s appeal for support raises a broader question about the relationship between political criticism, public accountability and economic reform.
Governments often introduce difficult policies on the grounds that they are necessary to address structural weaknesses. Such policies may require time to produce their intended results, particularly when they involve major changes to public spending, currency management or market arrangements.
However, the need for time does not remove the responsibility of government to explain its decisions, publish reliable information and respond to the consequences of its policies.
In a democratic system, opposition parties, civil society organisations, journalists and citizens play an important role in examining government performance.
Their scrutiny can help identify gaps in implementation, expose inefficiencies and encourage policymakers to improve programmes that are not delivering their intended results.
Criticism can also provide an opportunity for governments to explain the rationale behind their decisions and demonstrate whether promised benefits are emerging.
The debate should therefore not be reduced to a choice between supporting the President and criticising the administration.
Constructive engagement can include acknowledging reforms where evidence supports their effectiveness while also demanding action where households continue to experience severe hardship.
For the Tinubu administration, sustained public confidence will depend partly on its ability to demonstrate that economic reforms are producing measurable improvements.
For the opposition, credible alternatives will require clear proposals for managing public finances, supporting employment, improving productivity and reducing the cost of living.
Ultimately, Nigerians will assess competing political arguments through their everyday experiences and the economic opportunities available to them.
Economic Performance Likely to Shape the 2027 Election
The approach of the 2027 general election is adding a political dimension to the debate over economic reform.
The performance of the economy is likely to remain a significant issue as political parties seek public support and present their proposals for the country’s future.
For Tinubu and the APC, the challenge is to convince voters that the administration’s policies can deliver sustainable economic improvements despite the difficulties associated with the reform process.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, are likely to scrutinise the government’s record and argue for alternative approaches where they believe existing policies have fallen short.
Oyintiloye expressed confidence in Tinubu’s electoral prospects, predicting that the President would secure a decisive victory in 2027. He based his optimism on what he described as achievements by the administration across various sectors.
That prediction represents the APC chieftain’s political assessment rather than an established electoral outcome.
The election result will depend on voters’ decisions, the candidates and parties contesting the election, the political environment and other factors that cannot be determined in advance.
Economic conditions, however, are likely to remain central to public evaluation of the administration.
The extent to which the government can improve living standards, expand employment opportunities and make essential goods more affordable will be important considerations for many voters.
The opposition’s ability to present credible economic alternatives will also influence the debate.
As campaigning develops, claims about economic achievements and policy failures will require careful examination against available evidence.
What Happens Next?
Oyintiloye’s appeal places renewed emphasis on cooperation between the government, citizens and political stakeholders as Nigeria continues to confront economic challenges.
However, the practical test for the administration will be whether it can strengthen policies that ease the cost-of-living crisis while pursuing longer-term economic reforms.
Key areas to watch include the implementation of social intervention programmes, the performance of the agricultural sector, electricity supply, employment creation, inflation and changes in household purchasing power.
The government will also face pressure to demonstrate that public resources saved through economic reforms are being used effectively and that vulnerable citizens are receiving meaningful support.
Opposition parties are expected to continue examining the administration’s record as the 2027 election approaches, while the governing party will seek to defend its policies and highlight its achievements.
No political appeal can, by itself, resolve the structural problems affecting the economy. Progress will require effective implementation, transparent public spending, investment, job creation and policies that respond to the needs of households and businesses.
Oyintiloye’s position is that the President should receive support rather than sustained political attacks. The wider national debate, however, will continue to centre on whether the administration can convert its economic programme into tangible improvements in people’s lives.
For Nigerians facing high living costs, the most important outcome will be whether economic policy delivers greater stability, improved incomes and more affordable access to essential goods and services.
Sources
- Daily Post Nigeria — Report on Oyintiloye’s appeal for support for Tinubu amid economic hardship, October 25, 2026.
- TheCable — Report on Oyintiloye’s call for patience with Tinubu’s economic reforms, October 1, 2026.
- BusinessDay — Reports on Oyintiloye’s calls to strengthen social intervention programmes.
