Yakasai: Tinubu Will Replicate Lagos’ Economic Expansion in Nigeria

*Says President has capacity to redirect nation

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

Leader of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu would replicate the economic expansion of Lagos State in Nigeria.

Yakasai, who spoke to newsmen after meeting with President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, also suggested a time line of between six months and one year for Nigerians to start seeing the huge difference between the Tinubu administration and past governments in the country.

“So far, so good, I’m justified. I’m glad that he has proven his worth and I’m sure in the next six months to one year, everybody in Nigeria will come to testify that the administration of Asiwaju is different from all the administrations they have witnessed before,” he said.

The elder statesman, who was accompanied by some members of his family, said being the last leader of the country from the political class, President Tinubu has the capacity to return Nigeria to the path of rectitude and growth, as had been seen in other developed climes.

Yakasai, who said the last few days of the new government had been impressive, however, appealed to Nigerians to pray that Tinubu succeeds in his mission to straighten the country and for all citizens to support his vision. 

His words: “Some of you are aware that before Asiwaju declared his ambition to be the President of Nigeria, he visited my house and informed me of his intention. I blessed his intention. Now, after he has gotten what he wanted, my wives and the entire family said I should return the visit to Asiwaju. I can’t bring all of them, I picked some of them, we came just to congratulate Asiwaju on his election as President of this country. 

“We are looking, we are yearning for God to bring somebody like Asiwaju to be the President of Nigeria. From Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Asiwaju is the last leader of this country from the political class and I’m a politician. I spent 60-something years in politics. I know that only politicians will correct this country, as they’ve done in Germany, as they’ve done in America, as they’ve done in England and other places, Russia and Soviet Union.

“I’m happy that Asiwaju has now been elected by the people of Nigeria as President of this country. I saw what Asiwaju did in Lagos, with Lagos people, now Lagos, in terms of revenue and development, is bigger than a lot of countries in Africa. When I visited Lagos and I was taken round, I said I prayed that God will bring Asiwaju to lead this country and replicate what he did for Lagos to Nigeria and God has answered my prayers. 

“Let us thank God, all of us, for bringing Asiwaju to be the leader of this country, let us pray that he will succeed in his mission and let us pray that all Nigerians, regardless of their tribes, will give him cooperation and we’ll all team up with him to work hard and correct the mistake of the past and drag this country to move forward,” he said.