Tinubu: Enough is Enough, We’d Retrieve Nigeria from Those Crippling Her Devt 

*Says nation must nurture democracy for genuine progress

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his government was committed to retrieving the nation from all vested interests that had stifled her development over the years.

Also, yesterday, the president stressed the need for the nation and the rest of Africa to make genuine progress and development for democracy to be nurtured and sustained.

Tinubu, who spoke at the State House, Abuja, when he received in audience, the All Progressives Congress Women Leaders in the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, led by the party’s National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, tasked the women to educate the citizens on the policies and programmes of his administration with the awareness that the present difficulties were temporary.

“You understand better. You are better coordinators. You know how to multi-task. The gains of the subsidy removal will be channeled to better the lives of Nigerians from the few that have been fleecing the nation,” he said, while assuring them that issues of security, healthcare system and industrialisation would be top on priorities of his administration.

He declared that his administration was already implementing many policies and programmes that would positively impact the citizens, which he stated to include the students’ loan scheme, to ensure their children enjoy stable academic calendar in their respective tertiary institutions.

“We have established a scholarship scheme that would guarantee their four years of tertiary education,” he further said.

According to him, “Security is paramount in my administration’s agenda because women bear the cost of insecurity anywhere in the world. Issues of insecurity are being discussed at the highest level and this administration will ensure that insecurity is halted immediately.

“Medicare is another. We will ensure that health facilities are revamped and we will pursue this with vigour. Industrialisation is yet another priority as your children and relations will gain employment.”

While appreciating the women leaders for the visit, Tinubu praised them for their support during the campaigns and elections, adding that they all deserved awards for their efforts.

“You all deserve gold medals, because you worked so hard politically, overcoming so many obstacles like the fuel scarcity and naira confiscation,” he said, promising that their children would receive better rewards as their future has now been guaranteed with the initiatives being put in place.

With his new role as ECOWAS Chairman, Tinubu told the women that though his emergence would place on him additional responsibility, it would spur him to work even harder.

“We will continue to strive for a better Nigeria. You will not regret your confidence in this administration,” he said.

Reaffirming his administration’s open-door policy, he explained that the unity of the country was essential and central to his mind.

He advised the women leaders to be accommodating of others from other parties, who having seen the silver lining, and the brighter future that lies ahead, were willing to come on board.

Earlier, Edu, stated that the women had come to congratulate him on his victory at the polls, for the several good policies of his administration and for his election as ECOWAS Chairman at the last Summit.

She enumerated the sterling records of the president as Governor of Lagos State, which had endeared him to Nigerians.

These, Edu stated, included the economic development of the state and infrastructure. 

She, however, appealed to the President to consider more women in appointments.

Again, at a meeting with the leadership of the senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who came to congratulate him on his emergence as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Tinubu reiterated the need for democracy to survive in the sub-region.

“Democracy must survive. We need it to make progress. We have to send the right signal to the rest of the world particularly, outside Africa that we mean business,” he said.

The president said his election to chair the body of the 16 West African heads of government was unexpected and unanimous, saying it was a call to service that required more hard work.

Noting that his election came as a vote of confidence by fellow leaders in the region, the president said it was “additional responsibility we must bear for the good of Africa. With encouragement like this from you and other channels, the credit means more work.”

Tinubu pledged not to let Nigerians down in the discharge of his responsibilities in spite of the current challenges.

In his speech, Akpabio said Tinubu’s election during his first outing with the regional body was a testament to the high esteem in which his colleagues held him.

“We came to congratulate you on the laurel that you brought back home. On the first day, you were in the chambers of ECOWAS, your brother-presidents unanimously elected you to lead them. Your emergence signified the renewed hope you brought to Nigerians,” he said.

The Senate President further stated that the senate and the entire National Assembly would continue to support the president to deliver on his mandate and accomplish his vision for a more prosperous Nigeria.