Femi Gbajabiamila. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy and other economic reforms introduced by his administration have made life difficult for Nigerians. Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, made this acknowledgement even as he defended the decisions, saying President Tinubu opted to tackle deep-rooted economic problems rather than avoid difficult choices for immediate political gains. Gbajabiamila stated this during the presentation of the administration’s 2027–2031 electoral roadmap, titled “From Reforms to Prosperity Agenda”. He said the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market were necessary to address structural weaknesses in the economy and establish a sustainable economic foundation. Admitting the financial pressure the policies had placed on households, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives said retaining the previous economic arrangements would have worsened the country’s difficulties. Said he: “Now, those decisions have placed real pressure on households. We must speak honestly about that experience because the people living through it deserve to be heard. And nobody should have to pretend that life is easy at the moment”. Gbajabiamila said Tinubu could have chosen to maintain the existing economic policies if he had prioritised political considerations over leadership. Noted he: “If he came in as a politician and decided to govern as a politician, he would have continued on the cruise, on the path that we were taking. “But instead, knowing full well the immediate consequences, he decided he would govern as a leader”. He said the ultimate test of the reforms would be their ability to improve living standards and create better economic opportunities for Nigerians. Describing the newly unveiled electoral roadmap as a reflection of Tinubu’s governing philosophy, he said the administration was seeking to build an economy where citizens could earn decent livelihoods through hard work and enjoy equal opportunities to prosper. He also described a manifesto as an agreement between elected leaders and the electorate, stressing that government policies should create opportunities for citizens to benefit from their efforts.