President Bola Tinubu has narrated how he worked hard to become Nigeria’s President.
He says he encountered many difficulties before reaching his ambition.
This was disclosed by Tinubu on Friday when he received members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by Vice President Kashim Shettima on a Sallah homage at his Lagos residence.
He thanked some governors who kicked off the journey with him, appreciating their patience and resilience.
I didn’t duck the bullet. I accepted it. I got a punch in the chin. Very hard one.
“We stuck together the time I was faced with the challenge of trying to become the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It was very difficult. It was hard on the people with me. Some remained loyal.
“I decided to go out and campaign. I told nobody what I was going to do. “A lot of you took the risk and went ahead with me because of the party platform and everything,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu said the removal of fuel subsidy prevented Nigeria from going bankrupt and helped to put the country on the path to economic recovery.
Tinubu spoke when he hosted state governors who visited him to mark the Eid-el-Kabir festival and the third anniversary of his administration on Friday, it was reported.
Governors from Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Niger, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, Edo, Adamawa, Benue, Enugu, Ogun and Kogi states were present at the meeting. The deputy governors of Borno and Kano were also in attendance.
The President, who spoke at the gathering, said the removal of subsidy had brought hardship to many Nigerians but insisted that the decision was necessary to save the country’s finances.
It was hard then, but we got through it. We were sued. We were accused. We got through it. It is bankruptcy that Nigeria has remained. The economy has bounced back. It is on the rise. “Agriculture is booming,” Tinubu declared.
He said the country was starting to reap the benefits of reforms introduced in the past three years. The President cited ongoing infrastructure projects and opportunities in agriculture as signs of improvement.
Many of you have survived and you have encouraged many of our people to persevere, to trust this government. “Thank you very much,” he told the governors.
Tinubu also thanked Nigerians for their patience in the face of the economic challenges trailing the reforms. He said the difficult period is slowly giving way to positive results.
Reforms in infrastructure, agriculture, social investment programmes, foreign exchange management and fiscal policies are helping rebuild investor confidence and improve economic prospects, he said.
President lauded state governors for backing federal government policies and helping to ensure stability across the country.
I’m glad governors are not borrowing from the federal government and begging for interventions and not knowing how to survive, how to pay salaries. “You kept the spirit and you convinced our people to be patient and to bear these three years of painful reform,” he said.
“Critical economic indicators have improved and road construction and rehabilitation projects are ongoing across the country,” Tinubu said.
“The economy has rebounded. “Macroeconomic indicators are doing very well. “Roads and infrastructure are under construction, and abandoned projects have been rehabilitated,” he said.
He also expressed optimism on the future of the agricultural sector, saying Nigeria could achieve food security if available land resources are properly harnessed.
“The housing business is coming on very well. “Farming will flourish again. “If you use the land in your various states effectively, we will achieve food sovereignty,” the President said.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration would continue to implement policies aimed at reducing hardship, creating jobs, strengthening food production and promoting economic growth that benefits more citizens.
