The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has admitted that he cannot give a specific timeline for when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's policies will begin to produce visible and measurable results.
Morka made the statement on Thursday while addressing questions from reporters at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
His comments come amid growing public discontent over Nigeria's worsening economic and security situation. Citizens across the country continue to face rising levels of poverty, unemployment, hunger, inflation, and insecurity, which have significantly impacted the cost of living and general quality of life.
This uncertainty stands in contrast to the optimism expressed by top party leaders during the recent APC National Policy Summit held last week. At that event, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, all insisted that President Tinubu’s policies were already yielding positive outcomes.
However, Morka adopted a more cautious tone, using a metaphor to explain the gradual nature of economic reforms.
"The child is crawling. Now, I don’t know at what age. I can’t say. Some children crawl earlier than others. But regardless of how long it takes, crawling is a necessary stage before walking," he said.
“So, if the child is crawling, and that's your child, your job is to encourage that child. It's not necessarily about how fast, but that they’re on the right path."
On Fuel Subsidy Removal
Commenting on the controversial fuel subsidy removal, Morka argued that President Tinubu made a difficult but patriotic decision. According to him, successive administrations failed to tackle the issue decisively, instead opting to defer the crisis rather than address it head-on.
“All the presidents before Tinubu preferred to postpone the doomsday. But this administration took the bold step, acting in the long-term interest of the nation.”
The removal of the subsidy, announced on Tinubu’s first day in office in May 2023, triggered a wave of inflation and worsened economic hardship for many Nigerians, who are still struggling with high transportation and energy costs.
Clarification on Alleged Early Campaigning
In light of recent public endorsements of Tinubu’s performance by APC figures, Morka was asked whether these signaled an early campaign for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. He dismissed such interpretations.
“What we’re seeing is not a campaign. Endorsements and expressions of support for the President are not the same as campaigning,” he stated, adding that the party remains focused on governance, not politics.
On Insecurity: A Global Challenge
Regarding the persistent security challenges plaguing various parts of the country from banditry in the North-West to insurgency in the North-East and violent crimes in the South Morka described insecurity as a global phenomenon that has also been a longstanding issue in Nigeria.
“Insecurity is not unique to Nigeria. It's a global challenge. That said, we acknowledge it’s been with us for over two decades, and tackling it remains a top priority for the Tinubu administration,” he said.
Conclusion
Felix Morka’s remarks reveal a more measured and realistic assessment of the government’s current performance, acknowledging the complexity of Nigeria’s challenges and the uncertain pace of recovery under President Tinubu’s leadership. While APC leaders continue to express optimism, the public’s growing frustration over harsh economic realities poses a serious test for the administration's policies moving forward.
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