The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has attributed the current hardship occasioned by fuel and naira scarcity to the activities of saboteurs in the country.

Gbajabiamila said the fuel crisis and the lingering scarcity of naira notes were carefully contrived by some elements to derail the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to achieve political motive.

The Speaker said this during the launching of the second phase of a transport initiative, ‘Gbaja Ride’, designed to empower his Surulere constituents, in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said the House of Representatives was working hard to rescue citizens from the current  hardship towards bringing  relief as  soon as possible.

“As your representative and Speaker, I have a good understanding of the current hardships and discomfort being faced by many Nigerians, without exception to my constituents.

“The lower legislative chamber under my leadership has been on the side of the people, working tirelessly to rescue them from these difficulties.

“I am glad that the judiciary has also confirmed our position on the implementation of the policy of naira redesign,” Gbajabiamila stated.

He said the naira swap policy was a well-thought-out one, which had been hijacked and politicised.

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The Speaker alleged that some elements had created crisis around the policy just to stop the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, from wining the  2023 presidential election.

Gbajabiamila stressed that the plot seemed to be failing , saying Nigerians were still keeping faith with the APC and Tinubu inspite of what they were going through.

“Nobody can convince me that it is not a plot to stop Asiwaju from becoming the president of this country.

“But I am glad that our God is a wonderful being, as the plot these people sat together to hatch he has intervened.

“I have followed the campaign team to the East, North, and everywhere with Asiwaju and I doff my hat for Nigerians,” he added.

Gbajabiamila, however, urged Nigerians to cast their votes for Tinubu on February 25, saying he would not disappoint Nigerians if elected as president.

The Speaker said none of the candidates vying for the presidency has the capacity or competence to lead the country, except Tinubu.

Speaking on the ‘Gbaja ride’, the Speaker said the first edition kicked off in June 2018 with 30 new buses, 160 motorcycles, and 25 tricycles, adding that it was designed to empower the  constituents and ease movements.

He said the second phase has been better structured to offer better bus services to the people of Surulere at low fares.

Gbajabiamila said the new 35 buses would be run in partnership with members of Lagos State Park and Garages Administrators, adding that many routes would be covered by the buses.

He, however, said the buses would offer free rides to teachers, students, and residents who are above 70 years.

On his part, the Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Sulaiman Yusuf, commended Gbajabiamila for the  initiative.

He said the scheme was another proof that the Speaker was committed to the wellbeing of the people of his constituency.

The Star