It took Obama 8 years… Buhari can’t do it in 10 months - Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of representatives, has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.


He attributed the challenges facing the country to “the deep hole the nation was pulled into in the last 16 years”, saying if it took President Barack Obama of the United States almost eight years to “take America out of the rots he inherited”, then the Nigerian president would not be able to do the same in 10 months.

The lawmaker was speaking at the 4th convocation ceremony of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo state, where he was conferred with a honorary degree.

“I am aware Nigerians are facing challenges and everybody is complaining but I want us to look at this problem contextually,” he said.

“Let us look at advance countries like US it took almost eight years for Obama to take America out of the rots he inherited. It is the same thing that is going on in Nigeria we inherited a rot that there is no way we could come out of it in 10 months.

“The drafters of our constitution gave him (President Buhari) 4 years knowing fully well that it is nearly impossible for something meaningful to be achieved in 10 months.

“Change is an organic thing and cannot be achieved overnight. It is not only in the physical but most times in the subliminal. We see that change every day in our psyche and mentality and I plead that Nigerians should be a little bit patient with this government.

“We are coming out of a hole and in no time I believe we will come out that hole into the promise land and our destined future.

He also advised the graduating students to avoid unlawful conduct, particularly during the Ondo state governorship election.

“I want to charge the students that elections are beckoning again in Ondo state. I am a politician and I know you are the ones politicians run to in their time of need and that time of need is now, election time,” he said.

“I don’t want you to leave this hall and fall into the same trap and be dumped afterwards. I want you to go out there and exercise your franchise and civic responsibility with the fear of God so that your state would be the better for it.”

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, who delivered a speech at the occasion led members of the lower chamber of the national assembly to the event.

Lai Mohammed, minister of information, and Rotimi Ibidapo, a prominent businessman, were also honoured.