Hardship: Gowon meets Tinubu at Aso Rock, urges Nigerians to be patient

By Egena Sunday Ode

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on Wednesday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, urging Nigerians to be patient as government navigates the way out of the current economic hardship.
The meeting was the first between both men since President Tinubu assumed office as President in May last year.
Gen Gowon led Nigeria through the difficult era of the Nigerian Civil and a part of the post-Civil War time.
He has also featured in efforts at stabilizing the nation over the years, organising stakeholders in peace efforts over the years.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting with the president, the former Head of State advised Nigerians reason with government as its makes efforts to sort things out and get the economy back on the right tracks.
On what he would advise the president on the current situation in the country, he said: “Well, I was telling him that no Nigerian leader that can get there and will not have all the report of what is being said about him. But certainly, there’s no doubt from what one hears and what one sees on the various media etc, I think the government is trying their best to deal with the various problems of the country but with Nigerians.
“Don’t you worry you will get criticised but people who get there know better than you know. I think all what one can say is that Nigerians, we’ve got to give the president time to things really done. And it is too early to sort of say absolute result, perfect result will be achieved now. That is my opinion.
“I know and if I can remember, when I was fighting the war I was told I was too slow and that probably Nigeria cannot make it and that we should now seek for discussion. Well, did we do it or not? They probably do not know the problem underground so that is where we are.”
General Gowon also explained that his visit to President Tinubu provided him the opportunity to discuss the way out of the current quagmire in the ECOWAS, as the only surviving founders of the sub regional body.
“Gowon said: “He (Tinubu) was able to give me the opportunity to see him and to discuss various matters especially the issue of the ECOWAS problem at the moment which I think needs to be resolved. And being the surviving leader, or founding fathers of the ECOWAS I think we had to discuss some of his plans in order to see what can be done to bring the matter under control.”