Yakubu Gowon, the former Military Head of State, has expressed his belief that the criticism towards President Bola Tinubu is excessive, given the current economic challenges the country is facing due to recent government decisions.
Gowon made these comments following a meeting with Tinubu at the presidential villa on Wednesday. While acknowledging that criticism of the government is to be expected, he urged Nigerians to allow the president sufficient time to address the economic issues.
The former military leader disclosed that his conversation with the president primarily focused on the political turmoil within ECOWAS, particularly the fact that Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali are currently under the control of military juntas.
Gowon stated, “I believe the government is doing its utmost to address the country’s various issues. However, Nigerians should understand that criticism is inevitable. Those in power often have a better understanding of the situation. I would urge Nigerians to give the president time to effectively address these issues. It’s too early to expect immediate, perfect results. That’s my view.”
He added, “I recall when I was leading the war, I was criticized for being too slow and there were doubts about Nigeria’s ability to succeed. There were calls for negotiations. But did we not overcome? Many do not understand the underlying challenges, and that’s the situation we find ourselves in.”
